Unit 41777 – 1791
Historical Development of the Constitution
Essential question
How do you build a government strong enough to work but not strong enough to abuse people?
Pick one and go
Start Here
The first American government was deliberately weak — and it did not work. This unit follows what went wrong, the arguments and compromises at the Constitutional Convention, the three branches and checks and balances that came out of it, and the rights that were added afterward.
By the End of This Unit, You Should Be Able To…
- I can describe the purpose of government and types of government such as Monarchy, Democracy and Republic.
- I can explain the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
- I can describe the details surrounding the Constitutional Convention.
- I can examine multiple perspectives on various arguments about how the new government should be formed.
- I can explain how key issues like representation and slavery were resolved during the Constitutional Convention.
These come from the unit’s I Can statements. See them with their standards
Study groups in this unit
A Government That Did Not Work
The Articles of Confederation and the problems they could not solve.
0 of 8 words mastered
Arguments and Compromises
The Constitutional Convention and the deals that made agreement possible.
0 of 8 words mastered
How the Government Works
Three branches, checks and balances, and the powers of each.
0 of 13 words mastered
Rights and Amendments
The Bill of Rights and the process for changing the Constitution.
0 of 6 words mastered