Several different problems existed under the Articles of Confederation, and the solutions to these problems were presented and debated during the Constitutional Convention. By creating a spider chart, students will be able to visualize and summarize these issues and their outcomes.
In this activity, students will summarize and explain the several problems that existed under the Articles of Confederation as well as how divisions arose in finding a solution. Students will be able to explain and analyze the problems of a weak federal government, and how early politicians aimed to correct them and preserve the new nation.
Some suggested topics include
Extended Activity
Have students create a spider map or a character map about figures who participated in the Constitutional Convention. Students should detail who they were, their ideas, and where they stood on the status of federal government. Students could also detail their beliefs on state governments.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that describes and illustrates the various debates during and compromises that came out of the Constitutional Convention.
Encourage students to take on roles from the Constitutional Convention and debate issues like the Virginia Plan vs. the New Jersey Plan. This hands-on approach lets students practice critical thinking and understand why different solutions were proposed.
Have each student pick a historical figure from the Constitutional Convention and explore their stance on federal versus state power. This builds research and empathy skills as students learn to see issues from multiple viewpoints.
Work as a group to organize major events and compromises in chronological order using a visual timeline. This helps students connect cause and effect and see how solutions developed over time.
Divide students into groups and assign each a specific weakness of the Articles of Confederation. Each group discusses why it was a problem and how the Constitution addressed it, then presents findings to the class. This fosters teamwork and analytical thinking.
The Articles of Confederation created a weak federal government that struggled to collect taxes, enforce laws, and regulate trade. This led to inefficiency, disputes between states, and difficulty responding to national challenges.
The Constitutional Convention debated and designed a new Constitution, strengthening the central government, creating separate branches, and establishing checks and balances to solve the problems under the Articles of Confederation.
A spider map is a graphic organizer that helps students visually organize and summarize key problems and solutions related to the Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention, making complex topics easier to understand.
The Virginia Plan proposed representation based on state population, favoring large states, while the New Jersey Plan called for equal representation for each state. The Great Compromise blended these ideas to create a two-house Congress.
Teachers can use activities like storyboards, spider charts, and character maps to help students visualize debates, summarize compromises, and explore the roles of key figures at the Constitutional Convention.