Development Documents

What documents were used to help in the development of the United States Constitution?

Activity #1 Background Knowledge and Key Vocabulary

Begin your thinking by completing the following discussion

Review the information in the slides with your class

Activity #2 Deepening Understanding

JIGSAW ACTIVITY: Create 7 groups of 3 or 4 in each group and assign sections of the Articles of Confederation to read. Each group will read their assigned portion of the Articles of Confederation and write on a large sheet of Post-It paper, the main ideas in their own words, from their section. Each group will select a reporter who will briefly explain the title and information provided on the Post-Its to the large group.

Group 1 – Articles I – IV
Group 2 – Articles V – VI
Group 3 – Articles VII – IX (end of Par.1)
Group 4 – Article IX (Par. 2 & 3)
Group 5 – Article IX (Par. 4 & 5)
Group 6 – Article IX (Par. 6 & 7)
Group 7 – Articles X – XIII

Articles of Confederation.pdf Download Articles of Confederation.pdf

After each group has reported, as a class make a T-Chart of the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Activity #3 Application

As a team, review the slides and your class notes regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Develop a list of the key points that leaders wanted to make sure and include in a Constitution. Use the Google Document below to record you list. Make a copy and then work together as a team. This list will be useful in your next module as you compare these key points with The Preamble.

Key Points from the Documents that Influenced the Constitution Links to an external site.

Activity #4 Enduring Understanding

The important leaders in America at the time, knew that now that they were no longer under British rule, they would have to have some type of government in order to keep order in the 13 states. There had been official documents written before, and many leaders studied the writings of other leaders in order to develop the Articles of Confederation. This document formed an agreement among states, but it was not binding, and there were many problems with it from the start. One problem arose that made clear the reason for a stronger central government.

Watch the video below about Shay's Rebellion and complete the discussion question below.

Strong Central Government Discussion