Discovering Our Past: The American Journey to World War I

Chapter 6: The Age of Jefferson

Web Lesson Plans

Introduction
In this chapter, students learned about events and life in the United States in the early 1800s. It was a period of growth for the young nation. One institution that was growing along with the country was the United States Supreme Court. Established by Article III of the Constitution, the Supreme Court established its influence through a series of important early decisions.

Lesson Description
In this activity students will visit a site maintained by the United States government about the Supreme Court. They will learn about traditions of the court, many of which have remained unchanged since the Court's early days. Students will read and answer questions about these traditions and then create a new tradition or symbol for the Court.

1. The learner will be able to describe several traditions of the United States Supreme Court.
2. The learner will be able to create a new tradition or symbol for the Court as an example of his or her understanding of the Court's purpose.

1. the chief justice of the Supreme Court
2. since 1800
3. It is a tradition begun by Chief Justice Fuller in the late nineteenth century. It reminds the justices that differences of opinion on the court should not upset the overall harmony of purpose.
4. Both George Washington and Franklin Roosevelt appointed 8 associate justices to the Supreme Court.
5. Students' proposed symbols or traditions will vary.