Creating the U.S. Constitution
Essential Question
How did the Americans create a national (federal) government that
respected both the independence of the states and the rights of the
individuals?
Name:_________________________________________
Period_________________________________________
0
Learning Goals
LG 1- Students will understand the four reasons why a society needs government.
4 - Exceeds my expectations. Extended beyond what was taught about how a government provides, law and order, security, public
services and maintains other institutions (schools, health care, national parks…) for society. Student was able to use his/her own
knowledge and personal experience to make connections to the reasons for government.
3.5
3 - Successfully understood how a government provides, law and order, security, public services and maintains other institutions
(schools, health care, national parks…) for society.
2.5
2 - Needs refinement. With support can understand how a government provides, law and order, security, public services and
maintains other institutions (schools, health care, national parks…) for society.
1.5
1 - Needs improvement. Even with help had difficulty understanding how a government provides, law and order, security, public
services and maintains other institutions (schools, health care, national parks…) for society.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
LG 2- Students will understand the three basic forms of government (monarchy, dictatorship, democracy), and who has the power
to make decisions in each type of government.
4 - Exceeds my expectations. Extended beyond what was taught about the basic forms of government: monarchy, dictatorship, and
democracy. Student was able to explain variations for each of the basic forms of government (Republic, Direct Democracy,
Constitutional Monarchy, Absolute Monarchy, Autocracy, and Oligarchy). Student was able to use his/her own knowledge and
personal experience to make connections to the basic forms of government.
3.5
3 - Successfully understood the basic forms of government: monarchy, dictatorship, democracy. Will be able to explain variations of
each of the basic forms of government (Republic, Direct Democracy, Constitutional Monarchy, Absolute Monarchy, Autocracy,
Oligarchy).
2.5
2 - Needs refinement. With support can understand the basic forms of government: monarchy, dictatorship, democracy.
1.5
1 - Needs improvement. Even with help had difficulty understanding the basic forms of government: monarchy, dictatorship,
democracy.
1
LG 3- Students will understand the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and why there was a need to call for the
Constitutional Convention to write a new Constitution.
4 - Exceeds my expectations. Extended beyond what was taught about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Student
was able to explain and make connections between the weaknesses, and the national government inability to govern the separate
13 states.
3.5
3 - Successfully understood the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and how this document created a weak national
government that was inferior in power to the states.
2.5
2 - Needs refinement. With support can understand the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and how this document
created a weak national government that was inferior in power to the states.
1.5
1 - Needs improvement. Even with help had difficulty understanding the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and how this
document created a weak national government that was inferior in power to the states.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
LG 4- Students will describe how the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Declaration of Independence
influenced the creation the constitution.
4 - Exceeds my expectations. Extended beyond what was taught about how the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower
Compact, and Declaration of Independence influenced the ideas that went into the U.S. Constitution. Student was able to analyze
these primary source documents, and show specific ideas that transferred from these documents into the Constitution.
3.5
3 - Successfully understood how the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and Declaration of Independence
influenced the ideas that went into the U.S. Constitution.
2.5
2 - Needs refinement. With support can understand how the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and
Declaration of Independence influenced the ideas that went into the U.S. Constitution.
1.5
1 - Needs improvement. Even with help had difficulty understanding how the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower
Compact, and Declaration of Independence influenced the ideas that went into the U.S. Constitution.
2
LG 5- Explain how philosophers John Lock, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean Jacques Rousseau influenced the ideas that went into
the U.S. Constitution.
4 - Exceeds my expectations. Extended beyond what was taught about philosophers John Lock, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean
Jacques Rousseau influenced the ideas that went into the U.S. Constitution. Student was able to explain and analyze each
philosopher’s core ideas (Locke- natural rights, Montesquieu- separation of powers, and Rousseau- social contract), and how their
idea were incorporate into the core ideas of the U.S. Constitution.
3.5
3 - Successfully understood how philosophers John Lock, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean Jacques Rousseau influenced the ideas
that went into the U.S. Constitution. Student was able to explain each philosopher’s core ideas (Locke- natural rights, Montesquieuseparation of powers, and Rousseau- social contract).
2.5
2 - Needs refinement. With support can understand how philosophers John Lock, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean Jacques
Rousseau influenced the ideas that went into the U.S. Constitution. Student was able to explain each philosopher’s core ideas
(Locke- natural rights, Montesquieu- separation of powers, and Rousseau- social contract).
1.5
1 - Needs improvement. Even with help had difficulty understanding how philosophers John Lock, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean
Jacques Rousseau influenced the ideas that went into the U.S. Constitution.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
LG 6- Explain and analyze how the Great Compromise and 3/5 compromises made the Constitutional Convention a success in
writing a new Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation.
4 - Exceeds my expectations. Extended beyond what was taught about how the Great Compromise and 3/5 Compromise allowed the
Constitutional Convention to more forward and create a new constitution. Student was able to show different points of view on the
issue dividing the convention, and how the different sides ultimately compromised to resolve their differences. Will be able relate
the Great Compromise to the organization of the modern Legislative Branch of the Federal government.
3.5
3 - Successfully understood how the Great Compromise and 3/5 Compromise allowed the Constitutional Convention to more
forward and create a new constitution. Student was able to relate the Great Compromise to the organization of the modern
Legislative Branch of the Federal government.
2.5
2 - Needs refinement. With support can understand how the Great Compromise and 3/5 Compromise allowed the Constitutional
Convention to more forward and create a new constitution. Student was able to relate the Great Compromise to the organization of
the modern Legislative Branch of the Federal government.
1.5
1 - Needs improvement. Even with help had difficulty understanding how the Great Compromise and 3/5 Compromise allowed the
Constitutional Convention to more forward and create a new constitution, and relating the Great Compromise to the organization of
the modern Legislative Branch of the Federal government.
3
LG7- Explain how discussion over ratification (approval) of the Constitution caused the formation of the Federalist and
Antifederalist (Democratic-Republican) political parties.
4 - Exceeds my expectations. Extended beyond what was taught about the beliefs of the Federalists and Antifederalists over the
question of ratifying the Constitution. Student was able to analyze the motives and role the key individuals involved in the creation
and ratification of the Constitution. (James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, Ben Franklin, and
Alexander Hamilton). Student was able to tell how the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights help to persuade the states to ratify
the Constitution.
3.5
3 - Successfully understood the beliefs of the Federalists and Antifederalists over the question of ratifying the Constitution. Student
was able to explain the key individuals involved in the creation and ratification of the Constitution. (James Madison, Thomas
Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton). Student was able to tell how the Federalist Papers and the Bill
of Rights help to persuade the states to ratify the Constitution.
2.5
2 - Needs refinement. With support can understand the beliefs of the Federalists and Antifederalists over the question of ratifying
the Constitution. Student was able to explain the key individuals involved in the creation and ratification of the Constitution. (James
Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton). Student was able to tell how the Federalist
Papers and the Bill of Rights help to persuade the states to ratify the Constitution.
1.5
1 - Needs improvement. Even with help had difficulty understanding the beliefs of the Federalists and Antifederalists over the
question of ratifying the Constitution. Student was able to explain the key individuals involved in the creation and ratification of the
Constitution. (James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton). Student was able to
tell how the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights help to persuade the states to ratify the Constitution.
4
Practice #1: Time Line Discussion- Text- Pages 232-233
1. What created the first national government in the United States? In what year did this happen?
2. What important event happened in 1788?
3. What event on the time line shows how the government was trying to safeguard the rights of individuals?
Practice #2: Connecting Geography to History-Text- Pages 233
1. Which region of the U.S. was the most densely populated?
2. Which region was the most sparsely populated?
Practice #3: The Northwest Territory Text- p 240-241
1. What was the land in the Northwest Territory like before the American settlers moved there?
2.
How did American settlers affect the landscape in the territory?
3.
Why would geography have helped create an independent spirit in the territory?
Practice #4: Comparing Perspectives Text- p. 250
1. What was Patrick Henry’s main concern about the Constitution?
2.
What was it about a strong federal government that frightened the Antifederalists?
Practice #5: Reading Primary Sources Federalist Paper #51- Text- Pages 255-256
1. Why does Madison believe the Constitution should be ratified (approved)?
2. According to Madison how could abuse of power by the majority be prevented?
3. What does George Mason fear about the Federal government under the new Constitution?
4. In what ways does Mason believe the new government will abuse its power?
5
Why Society Needs Government
Civics Text p. 5
1.
Create a brace map showing the four reasons why people need a government.
4 Reasons
for government
6
Basic Types of Government
Civics Text p. 7 and 17
2.
Create a tree map classifying the three basic types of governments; monarchy, dictatorship and
democracy .
Types of Government
Monarchy
Dictatorship
7
Democracy
Articles of Confederation
American History Text p. 235-239
3. Create a circle map defining the powers given to Congress (national government) under the Articles
of Confederation?
4. Create a circle map defining the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
8
Documents That Influenced The Constitution
Civics Text p. 19-23 and American History Text p. 181-188
5.
Create a tree map classifying how these documents influenced the ideas that went into the U.S.
Constitution.
Historical Documents
Magna Carta
English Bill of Rights
Mayflower Compact
9
Declaration of Independence
6.
10
11
Compromises at the Constitutional Convention
American History Text p. 243-247
7. Why was there a call for a Constitutional Convention?
8. What role did James Madison play during the Constitutional Convention?
9.
Describe the N.J. and Virginia Plans.
10. What was the Great Compromise?
11. What was the 3/5th Compromise?
12
Federalists v. Antifederalists
American History Text p. 249-254
12. Create a double bubble map comparing and contrasting the Federalists and Antifederalists.
13. Create a bridge map showing an analogy between the Federalists and Antifederalists
Believed that
Relating Factor
____________________________^____________________________
as
13
Ratification of the Constitution
American History Text p. 249-254
14. What were the Federalist Papers, and how did they help to grow support for the new Constitution?
15. How did the lack of a bill of rights endanger the Constitution from getting ratified?
16.
How does the Bill of Rights protect people’s rights?
14