Constitution & New Republic: What Would You Do?
(Decision-Making and Critical Thinking Curricula)
Students tackle fascinating historical questions that put them in the shoes of a range of people from the past, from the rich and famous to ordinary citizens. Each lesson can be done either as an in-depth activity requiring up to two full class periods, or as a “quick motivator” requiring only 20–30 minutes. Detailed teacher pages give step-by-step instructions, list key vocabulary terms, offer troubleshooting tips, present ideas for post-activity discussions, and furnish lists of related sources. Reproducible student handouts clearly lay out the decision-making scenarios, provide "outcomes," and present related primary source readings and/or images with analysis questions. Decision-Making Book available for purchase on Social Studies School Service. Critical Thinking book forthcoming on Social Studies School Service. Free samples available below!
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Free Lessons
Lesson List: Decision Making in History: Constitution
INTRODUCTION – Guide to Critical Thinking
LESSON 1 – Hamilton Financial Policies: Will you support Hamilton’s financial proposals? SAMPLE LESSON
LESSON 2 – Anti-slavery Petition, 1790: Will you vote to allow debate on the antislavery petition?
LESSON 3 – President Washington’s Foreign Policy: What position will you take on the war between Britain and France?
LESSON 4 – Alien and Sedition Acts: Will you, as president, support the Alien and Sedition Acts? LESSON
5 – Barbary Pirates: What actions will you take with regard to the Barbary Pirates? LESSON
6 – War of 1812: Will you order an embargo in response to British trade restrictions on Americans? Will you declare war or negotiate with the British in 1812?
LESSON 7 – Erie Canal: Will you vote to have New York build (or heavily subsidize the building of) a canal in 1817?
Sample Lesson: Decision Making in History: New Republic
Students consider Alexander Hamilton’s suggested financial policies and decide whether or not they would adopt them, then learn what actually happened in history.
Annotated Bibliography: Critical Thinking in History: Constitution and Early Republic
Published Sources
Free Lesson! War of 1812 (Star Spangled Banner, analyzing conspiracy theories)
Free Lesson! Students evaluate online sources related to gun control, but only after they consider their own confirmation bias on gun control.
Free Lesson! Students evaluate cause and effect arguments about why the Constitution was written.
Free Lesson! Evaluating the reliability of sources on the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.
Free Lesson! Evaluating the causes of the economic depression of 1819
Free Lesson! Will you support the Sedition Act of 1798? Decision making lesson.
Free Lesson! The first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another party after an election! Will you accept defeat in the 1800 presidential election?
Free Lesson! Document analysis of the 1798 Sedition Act. Thinking like a detective.
How effective are checks and balances in preventing autocratic takeover?
Will you renew the Sedition Act in 1801? Decision-making problem.