## Overview: Constitution Toolkit

**Historical Background:**

They met in Philadelphia in May 1787. Fifty-five men from 12 different
states gathered, intending to revise the Articles of Confederation. As
they began their meetings, however, Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph
presented a plan prepared by James Madison. The plan outlined a design
for a new, centralized, strong national government. Thus began the
four-month process of secret argument, debate and compromise that
produced the Constitution of the United States. On September 17, 1787,
the final draft of the document was read to the 42 delegates remaining
at the convention.

Thirty-nine delegates affixed their signatures to the document and
notified the Confederation Congress that their work was finished. Then
the Congress submitted the document to the states for ratification. More
argument, debate, and compromise took place. The Constitution was first
ratified by the state of Delaware. On June 21, 1788, just nine months
after the state ratification process began, New Hampshire became the
ninth state to ratify and the Constitution established the U.S.
government as it exists today. The U.S. Constitution remains the
world\'s oldest written constitution.

**Suggestions for teachers:**

Use the documents and sound files in this primary sources toolkit to
help your students experience this long-ago event. Your students can
view the documents, recorded notes and personal reflections of the
delegates. They can read news reviews of the time. They can study a map
and image of the places where these historic events occurred and can
view paintings of the people involved in these events. They can view a
chart, a broadside, the song lyrics and a graphical cover for a musical
score. They can even listen to the words of later statesmen whose
speeches record their beliefs about the duties of government and about
being a U.S. citizen.

**Online resources:**

A simple online search will reveal a wealth of material available to
help teachers teach about the Constitution. Below are a few "starter"
resources - links to Library of Congress resources, links to high
quality resources from outside the Library, and a brief bibliography of
print materials.

**Library of Congress links:**

-   [American Memory
    Timeline](http://www.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/), feature
    presentation from The Learning Page\
    links to a variety of primary source materials concerning the
    founding of "[The New
    Nation](http://www.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/newnatn/usconst/consmenu.html)."\
    http://www.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/
    <http://www.loc.gov/learn/features/timeline/newnatn/usconst/consmenu.html>

-   [Primary Documents in American History](http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/PrimDocsHome.html),
    Collection Guide and Bibliography from the Digital Reference Team\
    Each item on this list of important documents offers a page with
    background information about the document, a list of links to
    digital materials concerning that document from the Library\'s site
    and elsewhere, and bibliographies.\
    <http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/PrimDocsHome.html>

-   [In Congress Assembled: Continuity and Change in the Governing of
    the United
    States](http://www.loc.gov/learn/lessons/constitu/conintro.html), a
    lesson from The Learning Page. Students study the Constitution and
    link early legislative debates to issues of today. Grades 6-12\
    <http://www.loc.gov/learn/lessons/constitu/conintro.html>

-   [The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National
    Salvation?](http://www.loc.gov/learn/lessons/broad/intro.html), a
    lesson from the Learning Page. Students access primary documents,
    identify arguments for and against the ratification of the
    Constitution, and produce a broadside in which they take a position
    on whether their state should ratify the Constitution. Grades 9-12\
    http://www.loc.gov/learn/lessons/broad/intro.html

**Links outside the Library of Congress:**

-   [Constitutional Rights Foundation](http://www.crf-usa.org/constitution_day/constitution_day_home.htm)\
    http://www.crf-usa.org/constitution_day/constitution_day_home.htm

-   [The Bill of Rights
    Institute](http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/Instructional/Resources/ConstitutionDay/index.htm)
    <http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/Instructional/Resources/ConstitutionDay/index.htm>

-   [The Charters of
    Freedom](http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html),
    National Archives and Records Administration
    <http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html>

# Print Resources

-   For young readers

    -   Fritz, Jean. *Shh! We're Writing the Constitution*. NY: Putnam,
        1987.\
        Describes how the Constitution came to be written and ratified.
        Also includes the full text of the document produced by the
        Constitutional Convention of 1787.

    -   Levy, Elizabeth. *If You Were There When They Signed the
        Constitution*. NY: Scholastic, 1987.\
        Presents the basic facts of the framing of the Constitution in a
        series of questions and answers.

    -   Maestro, Betsy and Giulio. *A More Perfect Union: The Story of
        Our Constitution.* NY: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard, 1987.\
        Provides simple, attractive, and informative content about this
        milestone in American history.

-   For middle-level readers

    -   Jordan, Terry L. *The U.S.Constitution: And Fascinating Facts
        About It*. Naperville, IL: Oak Hill Publishing Co., 1999.\
        Offers a pocket-sized volume, which includes facts about the
        Constitutional Convention, the Declaration of Independence and
        the Articles of Confederation. Elementary readers to adult
        citizens

    -   McKissack, Patricia. *To Establish Justice: Citizenship and the
        Constitution*. NY: Knopf, 2004.\
        Considers the creation of the Constitution and the rights of
        various groups of people as granted in the Constitution and
        interpreted by the courts. Grades 6-10

-   For high school and adult readers

    -   Monk, Linda R. *The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to
        the Constitution*. NY: Hyperion, 2003.\
        Engages readers with a comprehensive overview of the
        Constitution through a blending of historical information and
        commentary.