he died, Adams opened his eyes and whispered his last words: “Thomas Jefferson lives,” he said. Jefferson had died earlier that day. What He Said: “A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.” “Science is my passion, politics my duty.” John Adams (1735-1826) Highest Political Office: President (1797-1801) Other Accomplishments: First vice-president. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and negotiate the peace agreement with Great Britain to end the Revolutionary War. He served as Minister to Great Britain. Nicknamed of American Independence,” John Adams was a short (5'7"), plump man with an ego as big as his waistline. He felt it was beneath him to shake hands with anyone; he bowed instead. Adams was not alone in this practice, however. George Washington also preferred to bow rather than shake hands. Born and raised in what is now Quincy, Massachusetts, Adams was a lawyer by trade. He was the longest living American president. He died at the age of 90, in Quincy. Adams was the first president to occupy the White House. The nation moved its capital from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., during his administration. His Politics: was a Federalist, and, as such, he held a more elitist view of government than his Democratic-Republican rivals. The first truly defense-minded president, Adams built the U.S. Navy to the point where it could compete with that of any nation. Probably his most enduring political legacy was that he appointed John Marshall as Supreme Chief Justice. His most ignominious political legacy was his signing of the “Alien and Sedition Acts,” which made it a crime to criticize the government (violators could be imprisoned).
Edmund Randolph (1753-1813) Highest Political Office: U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Secretary of State Accomplishments: Helped draft the constitution for the state of Virginia; Member, Continental Congress (1779-1782); Governor or Virginia (1786-1788); Member, Virginia Ratification Convention; chief counsel for Aaron Burr during his treason (1807). Edmund Randolph graduated from the College of William and Mary and practiced law until the American Revolutionary War disrupted his personal and professional life. At the outbreak of the war in 1775, his father, mother, and sisters moved back to England. Randolph supported the rebellion and served for a short time as an aid to General George Washington, but soon returned to Virginia to become the youngest member of the convention to write Virginia’s state constitution. He then became the mayor of Williamsburg and later the “state’s” attorney general. His Politics: Randolph’s political experience also involved becoming a member of the Continental Congress, Governor of Virginia, and a delegate to the Annapolis Convention of 1786. He was chosen to be a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention in 1787, and is best known for presenting a proposal supporting the large states known as the Virginia Plan. The plan called for a bicameral legislative body and each state represented by population with the first house (representatives) elected by the people and the second house (senators) elected by the first house. The Virginia Plan eventually became part of the Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise submitted by Roger Sherman. He also wanted a committee of three to act as president. Randolph also served on the Committee on Detail that prepared a first draft of the new constitution. However, because of philosophical differences over the final Constitution,
Phillis Wheatley. The British Library / Robana via Getty Images Born in Africa and kidnapped into slavery, Phillis was bought by a family who saw to it that she was taught to read, and then to more advanced education. She wrote a poem in 1776 on the occasion of George Washington’s appointment as commander of the Continental Army. She wrote other poems on the subject of Washington, but with the war, interest in her published poetry waned. With the war’s disruption of normal life, she experienced hardships, as did so many other American women and especially African American women of the time. For additional information on Phillis Wheatley and her role as a Founding Mother, visit HANNAH Hannah Adams, with a book. Bettmann / Getty Images During the American Revolution, she supported the American side and even wrote a pamphlet about the role of women in wartime. Adams was the first American woman to make her living by writing; she never married and her books, on religion and on the history of New England, supported her. For additional information on Hannah Adams and her role as a Founding Mother, visit
important to the American way of life, including our representative government. Honesty, Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, and Cooperation Also discuss the values that further contributed to establishing our nation, including: Freedom and Equality Nine Core Character Education Values” History of the Declaration of Independence - For background information, have students read/review the passages in textbooks or excerpts from the article entitled “Historical Background Information on the Declaration of Independence” (provided in the Background section of this instructional resource guide) about the events in Colonial America that led to the American Revolution. Give special attention to the colonial dissent brought about by Britain’s taxation and governmental control over the colonies. Read the Student Handout entitled, “Declaration of Independence” and have students answer the “Declaration of Independence – Questions.” Separate readings are provided for middle and senior high school students. The questions are the same. Following the reading, review the answers to the questions with the Continue the discussion, by defining “unalienable rights” (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) as contained in the Declaration. (Note: The correct term is “inalienable rights.” A copyist changed the word to “unalienable.”) Ask students to consider if they would be willing to give up these rights or if they would fight for them as the colonists did in 1776. Ask students to consider what would have happened to the colonists, most notably the signers of the Declaration, if they had lost the war with England. Student reading entitled, “Declaration of Independence” (Separate middle and senior high readings provided) Student Handout entitled, “Declaration of Independence – Questions.”
Madison’s changes were presented as a list of amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by , strongly influenced Madison when writing the Bill of Rights. The approved 17 amendments. Of these 17, the Senate approved 12. Those 12 were sent to the states for approval in August of 1789. Of those 12, 10 were quickly ratified. Virginia’s legislature became the last to ratify the amendments on December 15, 1791. Sources: adapted from the Bill of Rights Institute, and the National Archives, Rights Guaranteed Under the Bill of Rights Directions: Write the number of the amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees each of the rights listed below. Give at least one reason why you feel the right is important. Amendment # Right Guaranteed Reason Freedom of religion Freedom of speech Freedom of the press To peacefully attend meetings To petition the government To keep and bear arms Fair treatment when accused of a crime Privacy Bail while awaiting Speedy by jury
Education World - Presents lesson plans on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Games about the Constitution – Offers games and quizzes about the U.S Constitution and the U.S government. ICivics - Offers lessons, games and activities; free registration required. Interactive Constitution – Provides a simplified commentary on the Constitution Library of Congress - Offers exhibits, including one on the Declaration of Independence. = National Constitution Center – Official website of the National Constitution Center Teaching with Documents: Observing Constitution Day – Provides lessons, activities, and simulations using primary source documents from the National Archives. The Bill of Rights Institute – Provides resources on the Bill of Rights Internet Resources continued U.S. History.org - Offers information on the history of the Declaration of Independence and Benjamin Franklin. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration – The site links students and teachers to resources on primary documents including the Declaration of Independence. We the People... - Lessons for Constitution Day and Citizenship Day from the Center for Civic Education