FoundingDocs2013

This website has historic maps of every presidential election. It is a valuable resource to teach those complicated elections - the visual really helps.

A simple, interactive game where students can click on items in a scene and find out if they are protected under their 4th Amendment rights.

This link is even more useful - full-text copies of all major anti-federalist writings. I've spent hours looking for great anti-federalist resources - here they are all in one place! Fantastic.

I feel like there have been several times when I've been looking for a site just like this - an easy list and full-text of all the federalist papers. Outline format makes it easy to find what you're looking for.

A well organized and student friendly site with a great pdf download of the primary source.

This video is straightforward and fascinating, helping to explain issues of apportionment. It really emphasizes the complexity faced by the Supreme Court in trying to interpret and understand the Constitution.

Transcripts of the Constitution that could be excerpted or used in entirety with classes. This website contains high resolution images and also transcripts of documents. Furthermore, it has background and history of the documents.

Thanks for this!

A nice cheat sheet for teachers with questions (important and nice to know) about the Constitution AND the answers! Some examples include: Q. How long did it take to frame the Constitution? Q. From what classes of society were the members of the Constitutional Convention drawn?

These lessons (geared toward middle school or lower level high school) ask students to closely read the Declaration of Independence, summarize key parts of it, and then use persuasive writing and evidence from the document to answer open response type questions. These lessons address several Common Core Standards.

A nice, short, comparison of the language in both the Articles and the Constitution.

Written by Madison, Hamilton and Jay, (although anonymously) with the intention of helping to persuade New York to ratify the Constitution. These essays discuss specific provision of the Constitution in detail and can be used to gain insight into the intentions of the writers of the Constitution.

Excerpt of letters from Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Morris,Henry Lee,and Henry Knox from the last years of the war to the beginnings of Constitutional Convention. The letters discuss specific problems with the Articles and give interesting insight into the views and characters of the people who went on to create the Constitution.

This poem was written to promote passage of the Constitution. It makes the argument that the nation needs a "new roof" (the Constitution) as it's roof is in badly need of repair.

Great Game that allows you to create a politician and try to pass a bill through congress.  You must read through constituents letters, decide on an issue to focus on, rally support, compromise with the other house and send the bill to the president. I had a lot of fun playing it and I think students would as well.

This collection of images provides a pictorial account of the Suffrage Movement, as well as an historical overview of the National Women's Party, timeline, information on selected leaders of the party, tactics and techniques of the campaign, and Gallery of Suffrage Prisoners. The photo collection is particularly great as a way to show the actions of the NWP.

This blog post discusses women's suffrage in the 17th century and how it is compatible with the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence. It dismisses the idea that the 19th amendment was some revolutionary idea and provides evidence that women were voting throughout the Colonial Period.

This is helpful essay provides background (for teachers or as a source to modify for students) on cruel and unusual punishment clause in the 8th Amendment. Provides information on influences to the writing/inclusion of the clause in the U.S. Constitution, as well as a concise yet cogent history of its interpretation over time through case outcomes. Further reading and a "Teacher's Companion Lesson" pdf provided.

This is another website that provides background information on the 1st Amendment. I like this website because it talks about a few Supreme Court decisions and justices that have asserted that freedom of Speech is absolute. Similarly, this website does a pretty good job of describing current issues and challenges to free speech.

This is a great 1st Amendment overview provided by Cornell University Law School. It explains the basics of of the amendment. However, it also goes into some of the limits and restraint within the amendment.

Great TED talk videos that pertain to U.S. History and the Constitution. I used one of these in my class that discusses creating the Presidency. At the end of the video is asks students to think about what they would have included when creating the Presidency.