H1N1 Emergency Lesson Plans for US I Classes

Each of you already has a copy of "The American Spirit: Volume I" at home. You will be reading Chapter 9: "The Confederation and the Constitutiuon, 1776-1790" so that we can take a closer look at the founding documents of American government.

Read article A1, "Daniel Gray Explains the Shaysites' Grievances" and respond to the following questions: "What were the farmers' principal complaints? Were they justified in taking up arms?"

Read article A2, "George Washington Expresses Alaram" and respond to the following questions: "What single fear seems to disturb Washington the most and why?"

Read article A3, "Thomas Jefferson Favors Rebellion" and respond to the following questions: "What did Jefferson regard as the most important cause of the disturbance and what was most extreme about his judgment?"

Read article B1, "The Debate on Representation in Congress" and respond to the following questions: "Do these debates show the Framing Fathers to be truly democratic? Explain. What were the most impressive arguments for and against popular election of representatives? Which side was right and why?"

Read article B2, "The Argument over Slave Importations" and respond to the following questions: "What were the arguments for nonimportation and those for continued importation? What might have happened if the convention had voted to stop all slave importations at once?"

Read article C1, "A Philadelphia Editor is Exptectant" and respond to the following questions: "Which one of the anticipated arguments against the Constitution seems most formidable? Why could the Shaysites be compared to the Tories?"

Read article C2, "Alexander Hamilton Scans the Future" and respond to the following questions: "Why would the rich be favorable to the new instrument? Why would the poor and the states' righters be unfavorable?"

Read article C3, "George Mason is Critical" and respond to the following questions: "Which of his criticisms relate to states' rights? Which to the rights of the South? Which seem overdrawn in the light of subsequent events?"

Read article C4, "Jefferson is Unenthusiastic" and respond to the following questions: "Why did he belittle reports of anarchy? Why did he condone periodic rebellions?"

Read article D1, "A Delegate Fears for the Little People" and respond to the following questions: "Did he fear taxation without representation or merely taxation in itself? To what extent did he anticipate the thesis of Charles A. Beard regarding the self-seeking economic motives of the propertied Founding Fathers?"

Read article D3, "A Farmer Favors the Constitution" and respond to the following questions: "How convincignly did he make his points that mob rule is tyranny, that anarchy begets despotism, and that the moneyed class was not thinking solely of its narrowly selfish interests?"

Read article E1, "An Antifederalist Demands Deliberation" and respond to the following questions: "What were the strongest arguments against a hasty and uncritical acceptance of the Constitution? What was the basis of the writer's optimism?"

Read article E2, "James Madison Defends the New Constitution" and respond to the following questions: "How does Madison justify the new central government envisioned in the Constitution? In particular, how does he handle the problem of "factions?""

This work will be discussed and graded when you return to school. Furthermore, some you will be tested on some of the key concepts from this material as well. I will indicate which concepts during our classroom discussion upon your return to school.

Lastly, this work should be enough to cover approximately two weeks' time. Should we be out for a longer period of time, I will add additional readings to this website.