Lesson
Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816)
What was Gouverneur Morris's role in the Newburgh Conspiracy? How did he contribute to the Constitutional Convention and and what were his view on the purposes of government?
Founding Principles
Federalism, Limited Government, Representative / Republican Government
Learning objectives
Students will:
- explain Gouverneur Morris’s role in the Newburgh Conspiracy.
- understand Morris’s contributions at the Constitutional Convention and his responsibilities in drafting the Constitution’s final wording.
- understand the way Morris’s strengths as well as shortcomings enabled him to contribute to his community and country.
- analyze the purposes of government set forth in the Preamble.
- evaluate the ways modern U.S. government fulfills those purposes of government.
Materials
Student Handouts
- Handout A—Gouverneur Morris (1752–1816)
- Handout B—In His Own Words: Gouverneur Morris and the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
Additional Teacher Resources
Lesson Components
Lesson plan
30 minClick a phase to open it
Standards
Advanced Placement
- CCE
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Related materials
FounderGouverneur Morris
Morris spoke more often (173 times) than any other delegate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Though he was often on the losing side of issues and was not a political theorist on the level of Madison, Morris was a leader of the nationalist bloc at the Convention that ultimately carried the day.