The Constitution:  Counter Revolution or National Salvation? Student Guide

The Task

Your platform will be a standard for the day--a broadside. In this broadside you will publicize your opinion regarding this new constitution. In order to support your position, you will examine a series of primary source documents written during the time. From this analysis you will identify the key issues facing the nation, what precipitated the call for a new government, and what the important issues raised by this new form of government were.

Background

• During the Government Workshop you identified what type of government to create, using the Declaration of Independence, your knowledge of colonial history and your assigned political persuasion as your guide. Did the Articles of Confederation reflect the ideals of the American Revolution? What were the problems facing our young nation?
• You have identified the reasons for calling a Federal Convention. Why did we need to revise the Articles of Confederation?
• You have completed a Document Analysis of the Constitution. Did it address the major issues? At what cost? Why might it be difficult to convince the individual states to adopt the Constitution?
• Your final project in this study of the creation of the Constitution will be to create a "broadside" arguing for or against ratification of the Constitution.

Activity One:   What is a Broadside?

Broadsides--by far the most popular ephemeral format used throughout printed history--are single sheets of paper, printed on one side only. Often quickly and crudely produced in large numbers and distributed free in town squares, taverns, and churches or sold by chapmen for a nominal charge, broadsides are intended to have an immediate popular impact and then to be thrown away.

"The Popularity of Broadsides" from An American Time Capsule: Three Centuries of Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera.

1. Begin by learning what a broadside is and how it was used. Go to the collection An American Time Capsule: Three Centuries of Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera in American Memory. Scroll down and click on the Special Presentation: Introduction to Printed Ephemera Collection.
2. Read the Introduction from the beginning through the section on Political Broadsides.
3. Answer the following questions in your project notebook:
1. What is a broadside?
2. What are its three most important defining characteristics?
3. How has it been used in history?
4. Examine two broadsides from the Introduction to An American Time Capsule.
5. Give a complete citation for each of the two broadsides.
6. What was the purpose of each broadside?
7. How did each broadside reflect the three defining characteristics you identified above?

Activity Two:   Examining the Primary Source Documents

. . . true historical understanding requires students to engage in historical thinking: to raise questions and to marshal solid evidence in support of their answers; to go beyond the facts presented in their textbooks and examine the historical record for themselves; to consult documents, journals, diaries, artifacts, historic sites, works of art, quantitative data, and other evidence from the past, and to do so imaginatively--taking into account the historical context in which these records were created and comparing the multiple points of view of those on the scene at the time. . .
National Center for History in the Schools.   National Standards for History.   Revised edition.
Los Angeles, CA:   National Center for History in the Schools, 1996.

Focus Question:   Was the Constitution a Counter Revolution?

Responsibilities

1. Each student will be assigned the role of supporting or opposing the ratification of the Constitution.
2. Each student will look at evidence on one of the assigned issues and share that evidence with others.
3. Each student will create a broadside using quotes from primary source documents.
4. Each student will present arguments for or against ratification of the Constitution based on evidence.

Issues

1. Issue 1:  Legality of the Constitution
2. Issue 2:  Regulation of Interstate and International Commerce
3. Issue 3:  National Debt and Treasury Obligations
4. Issue 4:  State vs. National Power
5. Issue 5:  National Integrity

Choice of Assignment

Techniques for Examining the Documents

1. Think about what you already know. The more you read, the more you know about the context of the material, and the more you will understand.
2. There is a rhythm to language. Reading out loud (as with Shakespeare) sometimes makes the meaning clear, even when old-style phrases and archaic words are not totally understood.
3. Use tools to create smaller chunks of text.
4. Focus on the title and introductory paragraph to determine what the document was originally written to communicate.
5. Click on the Bibliographic Information link to find out the date and any additional information known about the document.
6. Highlight sections of text as you read to help focus.
7. Use the "Find" function of the browser to search for keywords. Read several lines before and after the word to understand the context in which the keyword is used. Check the entire document for instances of the keyword.
8. Review your notes and prior knowledge to determine keywords. Search and skim looking for keywords.

Identifying Issues in the Documents

To identify the arguments for and against the ratification of the constitution.

1. Why did our founding fathers want to change the form of government?
2. What does this document tell you about the foundation of this nation?
3. How does this knowledge help you better understand some of the important issues of today?

Taking Notes

1. Identify the issue you have chosen to research
2. Give a full citation for each document
3. Identify the main points, related to the issue you have chosen, that are raised in each of the documents.
4. Do these points support or weaken the argument for the ratification of the Constitution?
5. Identify specific quotes from the document to demonstrate your understanding of the document, the issues and arguments for and against the ratification of the constitution.

Sharing Findings

You will then meet with four other colleagues who have been examining other documents and issues and share your findings.

Producing a Broadside

Finally you will produce a broadside to publicize your position in regard to ratification of the Constitution.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated on three criteria:

1. Content (60 points)
1. Position statement
2. Evidence in support of position
3. Represent interest of your state
4. Demonstrate understanding of primary documents
2. Format (30 points)
1. Was the material well presented in the style of a broadside?
2. Promotional
3. Graphics
4. Layout
3. Mechanics (10 points)
1. Was the material well presented in the style of a broadside?
2. On time
3. Grammar

Closure

It is hoped at the conclusion of this project you will have a better understanding of the foundations of our government. It is the longest lasting democracy in the world. Why? Is that something to celebrate or mourn?