Constitution - Founded on Compromises

Directions: Use the resources at Ben's Guide: The Constitution to explore the compromises on which the U. S. Constitution was founded.

1. The United States has a bicameral legislature.

a. What does that mean?

b. How was this a compromise?

c. Name the bicameral bodies of the U.S. Government.

d. Is your state government bicameral? (Use you online research skills to find the answer.)

2a. What was the compromise regarding commerce and slavery?

b. Good compromises work for everyone winning in some way. Who were the big losers in this compromise?

c. Is the compromise still in effect today?

3. What are the implications of the Nationality requirements compromises?

4. Survival often hinges on the ability to adapt or change.
It is fortunate that those drafting the Constitution allowed for change - amending.

a. Has it ever been necessary to amend the Constitution?

How many times?

b. Has an amendment ever been repealed? Explain.

5. Review the Comparison and Contrast Guide @ ReadWriteThink - online activity through "Evaluating".

Tip: To work your way through click the right pointing arrow after reading each page.

The United States is not a democracy. It is a republic.

Write an essay Comparing and Contrasting a democracy and a republic form of government.

"To model our political system upon speculations of lasting tranquility,
is to calculate on the weaker springs of the human character." ~ Alexander Hamilton

Extras:

Complete an essay - The people made the Constitution | Preamble | Gouverneur Morris, The Constitution and Slavery

Decipher the History Mystery Message | Mystery Object - disk | Mystery Object - Ring | A Note for Freedom project

Take a virtual tour of the US Capitol Building | History Mystery projects at Scholastic

Civics and History - Projects | Essays | Voting/elections | Extras | Quotes about Government

Posted 11/2005/ Updated 9/2010 by Cindy O'Hora Released to public domain

Save a tree - use a Digital Answer Format - Highlight the text. Copy it. Paste it in a word processing document. Save the document in your folder. Answer on the word processing document in a contrasting color (not yellow) or font (avoid , or other ornate artistic fonts). Save frequently as you work. Or perhaps you have the resources to record verbal answers. If you do, be sure to first read / record the question. Then record the answer immediately after it.

Proof read your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work.

How to: Make your own printer ready paper answer sheet with lines.