Founders and the Constitution

In this lesson, students will study the life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Students will learn about his role as a leader during the revolution, his championing of religious tolerance, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of John Adams. Students will learn about his role in the American Revolution, in the shaping of the new nation, his role as president, and his reasons for and objections to the Alien and Sedition Acts.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Benjamin Franklin. Students will learn about Franklin's contributions to his community and country, evaluate the Albany plan, analyze Franklin's efforts oppose slavery, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Elbridge Gerry. Students will learn about Gerry's role as a leader of the American opposition to British tyranny, his opposition to the Constitution, the tactic of gerrymandering, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Patrick Henry. They will learn about why he is often called "The Orator of Liberty", and his opposition to the Constitution. They will also analyze his speaking style.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Thomas Jefferson. Students will learn about his efforts to protect individual rights and human liberty, his views on the Founding, and the contradictions between his words and his actions.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Richard Henry Lee. They will learn about his views on the slave trade and slavery, his role as a leader of the American opposition to British tyranny, and his opposition to the Constitution.

In this lesson, students will study the life of James Madison. They will learn about why he is called, "The Father of the Constitution", his views on the Bill of Rights, his remedy for the problem of factions in a democratic republic, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of George Mason. They will learn about Mason's views on rights, his objections to the Constitution, and his devotion to personal liberty and states' rights.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Robert Morris. They will learn about his role as a leader of the American opposition to British tyranny, in stabilizing the finances of the United States, and support of the Constitution.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Charles Pinckney. They will learn about his contributions to the Founding, his views on the Articles of Confederation, his role at the Constitutional Convention, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Roger Sherman. Students will learn about his contributions to public service, his views on the proper division of power between state and national government, and his view on the role of government.

In this lesson, students will study the life of John Witherspoon and his influence on religious freedom in America. They will learn about the significance of Article VI, Section 3 of the Constitution, the concept of a "religious test" for public office, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Samuel Adams. They will learn about his role as a leader in the American opposition to British tyranny, his hopes for a new American government, and his methods of persuasion for the Revolutionary cause.

In this lesson, students will study the life of John Dickinson. They will learn about why he did not sign the Declaration of Independence, his opinions on government, the purpose of the colonists' objection to the Townshend Acts, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Alexander Hamilton. Students will learn about his reasoning in supporting a single and powerful executive leader, his role at the Constitutional Convention, and the role he played in shaping the new United States government.

In this lesson, students will study the life of John Hancock. They will learn about the ways Hancock worked to support the Revolutionary cause, his partnership with Samuel Adams in resisting British tyranny, the effectiveness of his rhetoric, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of John Jay. They will learn about the significance of Jay's Treaty, Jay's efforts to abolish slavery on a state and national level, his political roles during and after the Revolutionary period, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Gouverneur Morris. They will learn about Gouverneur Morris's role in the Newburgh Conspiracy, his contributions and responsibilities at the Constitutional Convention, and his view on the purposes of government.

In this lesson, students will study the life of James Otis. They will learn about the concept of inalienable or natural rights, his opinion on slavery, his contributions to the Revolutionary period, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Thomas Paine. Students will learn about his arguments in Common Sense, The Rights of Man, The Age of Reason as well as his contributions to the Revolutionary cause.

In this lesson, students will study the life of Benjamin Rush. They will learn about Rush's contributions to social reform in his community and country, his goals for education, and the roles he played during and after the Revolutionary period.

In this lesson, students will study the life of George Washington. They will learn why he is known as "Father of His Country," his reasons for not seeking a third term as president, the purposes of his Farewell Address, and much more.

In this lesson, students will study the life of James Wilson. They will learn about his contribution to the system of presidential elections, the concept of popular sovereignty, and his views on punishment.