| Step #1: |
You will be
assigned the role of either a Federalist or Anti-Federalist.
Instead of debating every aspect of the Constitution, you will also
be assigned one of the following issues to focus on in your
research and debate:
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| Step #2: |
Read these primary/ secondary source documents as
background for the state ratification convention:
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| Step #3: |
You will
research your particular issue. For each issue, there is a list of
a few documents to focus on. Regardless of which position you are
assigned, be sure to examine the arguments of both sides. You
need to anticipate the opposing arguments and be able to respond to
them! The following two websites will probably be the bulk of your search. There are 85 Federalist Papers and they are titled on this index to make for easier browsing. The writings of the Anti-Federalists were not so well organized, however, the site below has collected 85 Anti-Federalist Papers that have been indexed so that their number corresponds to a Federalist Paper with the same number on roughly the same topic. For each issue, a few documents have been selected to begin your search. |
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General sources:
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Issue
1: Separation of
powers/checks and balances.
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Issue
2: The
Elastic Clause.
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| Issue 3: Congressional Powers of Taxation and War. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Issue 4: A Bill of Rights. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Step #4: | Prepare your arguments for the ratification convention by completing both sides of the “Debate Organizer” sheet. On the back, be sure to anticipate the arguments of your opponents. You will bring this “Debate Organizer” to the ratification convention and use it during the debate. If you do not bring a completed “Debate Organizer” to class, you will not be allowed to participate in the debate. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Step #5: |
On the day of the convention, the classroom will be set up in two circles, an inner circle and an outer circle. If you are in the inner circle, you will be actively participating in the debate. If you are in the outer circle, you are observing the debate and taking notes on the “Convention Note Sheet”. Halfway through the period, the two circles will switch. Both the “Debate Organizer” and “Convention Note Sheet” will be turned in to be graded. |
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| Step #6: | When all of the issues have been discussed, the full convention (entire class) will vote on whether to ratify the Constitution or not. Although you have been assigned a role as a Federalist or Anti-Federalist, you may allow yourself to be swayed by the other side’s arguments. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Step #7: | For homework that night, you will write a 2 ½ page typed “Letter to the Editor” defending your vote in the ratification convention. In your letter, use specific evidence to discuss three of the four issues: separation of powers/ checks and balances; the elastic clause, congressional powers of taxation and war, and a bill of rights. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Step #8: |
You will turn in your:
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