The government under the Articles of Confederation gave the states much power, resulting in a weak central government that lacked adequate executive and judicial powers. After the American Revolution, the American delegates would meet again with the fate of the new nation in the balance. The weak government created under the Articles of Confederation had left these new states in a disjointed and very vulnerable position. Delegates had to act quickly to create a new government that would ensure freedom but also be strong enough to function effectively. Delegates drafted the United States Constitution, which outlined a three-pronged government that balanced the needs and guarantees of the American people.
Through the activities of this Constitutional Convention lesson plan, students will be introduced to the creation and ratification of the United States Constitution. Students will discuss and research the background of the Constitution, understand the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, examine the role that commitment had in this new republic, and connect how these freedoms and freedoms still remain in today's society
