| The Constitution |
| Unit Overview: Can the people be trusted to govern? The Revolutionary War has been won. The Colonists have defeated the British. Now what? How does this new nation come up with a document that will allow for state's rights, individual freedoms, a strong central government, and leadership? Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and others have varying opinions about which direction the new country should take. Can the people be trusted to govern in this new democracy? What decisions should the Federal government make? What decisions should the state governments make? Who will guide the country, a King, a Congress? What role will religion play in this new country? How will individual freedoms be protected? The Constitution is a document that many take for granted today, but it is the basis of our system of democracy. Think about the following questions to get you started on your quest to understand how the Constitution was formed. By the end of this unit you will know the answers to all of these. 1. Who were the major people involved in forming the Constitution and what were their opinions on what should be done? 2. What were the Articles of Confederation and why didn't they work? 3. What does the Constitution actually say? 4. What is the Bill of Rights and why is it important to the Constitution? 5. What role does the Constitution play in our lives today? Major Projects and Writing Assignments: Constitution TOW Constitution metaphor Bill of Rights shield Reading Books: Fun sites for this unit: Online copy of the Constitution Home: |