The American Republic Since 1877 © 2007

Chapter 3: The American Revolution, 1754—1789

Web Lesson Plans

Introduction
Students have read about the Constitutional Convention of May 1787. In this activity students will review an article on the Web site of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) about the different perspectives of the delegates and the efforts that led to the ratification of the Constitution and its amendments.

Lesson Description
Students will use information from the A More Perfect Union Web site to learn about the different views of delegates at the Constitutional Convention. Students will read about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the proposals of delegates, the issues that raised debates, objections to the Constitution, and the compromises that led to ratification of the Constitution. Students will then answer four questions and apply this information by creating a poster about the ratification of the Constitution from the viewpoint of either a Federalist or an anti-Federalist delegate.

Instructional Objectives
  1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the issues related to the creation and ratification of the United States Constitution and the new government it established.
  2. Students will be able to use this knowledge to create a poster about the ratification of the Constitution from either a Federalist or an anti-Federalist viewpoint.
Student Web Activity Answers
  1. Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress had little power while states' governments were very strong. Congress could not raise funds, regulate trade, or support a war, and it had limited authority to settle quarrels between the states. A depleted treasury, high inflation, and trade problems indicated that the United States was close to bankruptcy.
  2. The Virginia Plan called for a strong centralized government consisting of three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial. The federal government would have veto power over laws enacted by state legislatures. The New Jersey Plan opposed a strong central government and proposed revisions to the Articles that would be limited to taxation and commerce regulation. It also provided that states' laws would be subordinate to acts of Congress and ratified treaties. Alexander Hamilton's proposal called for an executive to serve during "good behavior" or life with veto power over all laws. He modeled his plan after the British monarchy, a government which he thought was "the best in the world."
  3. Representation, regulation of commerce, slavery, and individuals' rights were the most contested issues at the convention.
  4. Anti-Federalists called for amendments to the Constitution that clearly stated the rights of individuals and the limitations of government. Most delegates to the convention thought that a Bill of Rights was unnecessary, but anti-Federalists balked. Madison realized that the Bill of Rights would ensure acceptance of the Constitution and defuse anti-Federalists' objections to the Constitution. During the First Federal Congress, he worked to persuade the House to enact the amendments.
  5. Students' posters will vary.
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