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Lesson

State Constitution Comparison

Duration
70 min
Grade
9–12
Published
Nov 15, 2020
Historical painting of a large assembly in a grand room, featuring numerous men seated and standing around a central table.
Use this lesson following direct instruction in the constitutional principles that the British colonies derived from their experience and their legal and constitutional history. This instruction should include, but not necessarily be limited to, natural rights, rule of law, popular sovereignty, republicanism, separation of powers, and checks and balances.

Objectives:

  • Students will explain how state constitutions addressed the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and how they exhibited constitutional principles.
  • Students will compare and contrast important elements of the new state constitutions written in the former colonies during the period from 1776 to 1780.

Materials

Provide markers and chart paper for the conclusion/assessment activity, or, alternatively, computer access so that students may develop a slideshow to visually represent a comparison of the three state constitutions.

Lesson Components

ActivityState Constitution Comparison Graphic Organizer

A graphic organizer that helps students compare and contrast the powers delegated by the State Constitutions of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

ActivityThe Constitution of Virginia, June 29, 1776 (Excerpts)

Excerpts of the Virginia Constitution that ask students to underline examples of the rights of Englishmen and evidence of constitutional principles, and then complete the Review Activities as directed.

ActivityConstitution of Pennsylvania (Excerpts), September 28, 1776

Excerpts of the Pennsylvania Constitution that ask students to underline examples of the rights of Englishmen and evidence of constitutional principles, and then complete the Review Activities as directed.

ActivityConstitution of Massachusetts (Excerpts), March 2, 1780

Excerpts of the Massachusetts Constitution that ask students to underline examples of the rights of Englishmen and evidence of constitutional principles, and then complete the Review Activities as directed.

EssayNew State Constitutions Essay

An essay that helps students compare and contrast the State Constitutions of Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania with the United States Constitution. Comprehension questions are included.

Lesson plan

70 minClick a phase to open it

More Information

After the Warm-Up Activity, you will divide your class into three groups and assign each of them to read one of the three state constitution excerpts. You might choose to have your students read their assigned excerpt as homework to allow more time for comparison and discussion time during class.

Standards

Advanced Placement

  • Topic 3.7 · Articles of Confederation
  • Theme · Politics and Power
  • Learning Objective · Unit 3H
  • Historical Development · 3.2.II.A
  • Reasoning Skill · Developments and Processes
  • Reasoning Skill · Sourcing and Situation
  • Reasoning Skill · Claims and Evidence in Sources
  • Reasoning Skill · Contextualization
  • Reasoning Skill · Making Connections
  • Reasoning Skill · Argumentation
  • Reasoning Process · Comparison

Check whether this resource aligns with your state’s standards →

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