The Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states, in order to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government. It created a federal system with a national government composed of 3 separated powers, and included both reserved and concurrent powers of states.

What does the Constitution do? What are the principles of self-government in the Constitution? In this rapid-fire episode of BRI’s Primary Source Essentials and United States Constitution summary, learn how the US Constitution was framed as a stronger, yet limited, government built upon certain principles. The US Constitution Explained | A Primary Source Close Read w/ BRI: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/videos/the-constitution-explained-a-primary-source-close-read-w-bri

Use this lesson with The Constitutional Convention Narrative and after students have done The Articles of Confederation, 1781 Primary Source activity.

How can the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights inspire us to establish justice in our classroom? 

Join us on an exciting journey as we uncover the secrets of the US Constitution! In this elementary history lesson, we explore how the founding fathers, like James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, came together to solve the "puzzle" of creating a government for the new United States. From the challenges of the Articles of Confederation to the famous Great Compromise, discover how these brilliant minds crafted the framework that shaped the nation we know today. Learn about the Constitution’s three branches of government, the system of checks and balances, and how these pieces fit together to ensure a government by the people. Our elementary lessons are primary source-based that focus on content-area literacy instruction and performance-based assessments. Designed for grades 3-5, these lessons use a modular approach for all learners and are ideal for helping elementary students explore American history and citizenship.