Introduce the Special Presentation as a review of events from the Revolution up to the ratification of the Constitution. Ask students to read the entire presentation, paying special attention to the sections that talk about the problems that arose after the Revolutionary War under the Articles of Confederation. Students are to note down 4-5 problems that the nation was facing, with particular attention to the years under the Articles. In class discussion, students brainstorm and list problems that faced the nation under the Articles of Confederation. If computer lab time for the class is unavailable or limited, print out copies of each of the primary source documents named in each of these five issue handouts.
Students divide into five groups with five to six people in each group.
Each group is assigned one of the five issues to research. Distribute to each of the groups the handout for their assigned issue. In the computer lab, students form teams of two and examine online pre-selected documents from American Memory. For each document they are to determine the arguments for and against the ratification of the Constitution providing quotes that demonstrate understanding. If time in the computer lab is limited or unavailable, distribute print copies of the each of the primary source documents named in each of these five Issue handouts.