CH9 – The Confederation & the Constitution

Time Frame: 1766-1790

Objectives: At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

• Explain the broad movement toward social and political equality that flourished after the Revolution and indicate why certain social and racial inequalities remained in place.
• The American Revolution – American Institute for History Education– A PowerPoint on effects and social effects of the war.
• Societal Impacts of the American Revolution [ushistory.org]
• Describe the government of the Articles of Confederation and summarize its achievements and failures.
• Avalon Project – Articles of Confederation : March 1, 1781– The actual document if you’re interested in reading it.
• Why did the Articles of Confederation Fail – Articles of Confederation
• Pro & Cons of the Articles of Confederation | eHow.com
• Explain the crucial role of Shays’s Rebellion in sparking the movement for a new Constitution.
• Shays’ Rebellion — History.com Articles, Video, Pictures and Facts
• Shays’ Rebellion – Study Guide
• Describe the basic ideas and goals of the Founding Fathers in the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention and how they incorporated their fundamental principles into the Constitution.
• The Federalist Papers
• Federalism: The Founders’ Formula for Freedom | 10th Amendment Task Force– A Congressman’s take on the founding fathers.
• Understand the central concerns that motivated the antifederalists, and indicate their social, economic, and political differences with the federalists.
• Simplified Summary of Federalist / Anti-Federalist Arguments
  from ThinkQuest
• Describe the issues at stake in the political fight over ratification of the Constitution between federalists and antifederalists, and explain why the federalists won.
• Explain how the new government, set up by the Constitution, represented a conservative reaction to the American Revolution, yet at the same time, institutionalized the Revolution’s central radical principles of popular government and individual liberty.

Assignments

• Federalist 51 (PDF)
• The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

Resources

• James Madison Center
  from James Madison University (only a stones throw away!)

Articles of Confederation Videos

Overview of the Articles of Confederation, developed by a non-WHS student

Commentary on the Weaknesses of the Articles