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Lesson Plans

The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society ©2001

by Gary B. Nash and Julie Roy Jeffrey John B. Howe, Peter J. Frederick, Allen F. Davis, Allan M. Winkler

Focus Lesson 4

Chapter 7: "Consolidating the Revolution"


AP* Course Description

  1. Constitution and New Republic, 1776–1800
    1. Philadelphia Convention: drafting the Constitution
    2. Federalists versus Anti-Federalists

Key Components

  • Instructor's Guide: pp. 38–41
  • Study Guide, Vol. I to 1877: pp. 61–68
  • Test Bank: pp. 104–119

Key Web Sites

Given the changing nature of the Internet, you may wish to preview these sites. Always check for updated links to U.S. history sites.

Key Words and Terms

  • Confederation Congress
  • New Jersey Plan
  • Annapolis Convention
  • Anti-Federalists
  • Land Ordinance
  • Northwest Ordinance
  • Federalists Papers
  • John Jay
  • relief (stay) laws
  • Virginia Plan
  • Great Compromise
  • Federalists
  • Treaty of Fort Stanwix
  • Shays's Rebellion
  • Constitutional Convention
  • James Madison
  • Alexander Hamilton
  • federalism

Suggested Pacing

Given the importance of the subject matter of Chapter 7, allow a week to teach this chapter.

Test Strategy

Frequently in the AP* exam, students will find a question that asks them to compare one thing with another, such as one person's philosophy with another person's. This chapter provides several opportunities to make comparisons. One such possibility is comparing the viewpoints of large states and small states over the question of representation in the new government. Another is comparing the viewpoints of the Federalists versus the Anti-Federalists about the nature of the new government. A third is comparing the viewpoints of Alexander Hamilton versus Thomas Jefferson or the Federalists versus the Democratic-Republicans over how the new government should carry out its duties.

Key Concepts

Chapter 7 discusses the uncertainties faced by the new nation after the Revolutionary War. The new nation was weak and beset by internal problems such as war debts and Shays's Rebellion. Students should be able to build on their understandings from the previous chapter and connect the problems of government from the time of the Revolutionary War—especially in terms of the tensions between local and national authorities—to the call for a new national constitution. Students should be able to answer questions such as: Why were the Articles of Confederation considered too weak? Which group wanted to keep the Confederation and why? Who supported a new constitution? What were the motives of the Framers of the new federal Constitution? How did economics play a part in these deliberations?

Summing Up Student Understanding

Assign a semester project at this time. It could be a research paper, an essay, a debate, or a book review. The following is an example of a book review.

BIOGRAPHY BOOK REVIEW

Select a biography of someone who is of interest to you from the period of exploration through Reconstruction. A book review requires that you interpret, critically analyze, and evaluate the contents of the book including accuracy, point of view, style, and interest. Examples of book reviews can be found in the entertainment or arts section of the Sunday edition of the newspaper. A book review is composed of four basic parts:
  1. a brief summary of the book's contents
  2. identification of the method of treatment, e.g., thematic or chronological, popular or scholarly writing style
  3. critical analysis, which includes a statement of the author's biases and position, and how well and by what means the author supported his or her position
  4. the reader's personal reflections, e.g., what impact the book had on you the reader and how it confirmed or changed your thinking about the subject.
ASSIGNMENT
  1. You need to show me the book you want to read by _____________.
  2. Your book review should include:
    1. title
    2. author
    3. publisher and copyright year
    4. the points listed above
    and should be no less than two typed pages, double-spaced, and no more than three typed pages, double-spaced.
  3. The book review is due ___________.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

You might also find these additional readings useful in developing students' background knowledge or for DBQ activities:

  • American Issues: Vol. I to 1877, edited by Unger and Tomes—Chapters 6 and 7
  • The Power of Words: Vol. I to 1877, edited by Breen—Chapter 7
  • Constructing the American Past, Vol. I, edited by Gorn, Roberts, and Bilhartz—Chapter 6