After independence, Americans had to figure out how to govern themselves. Students explore how the 13 states moved from British rule to their own governments, and the early problems that led to calls for a stronger national framework.
Essential question
How did Americans organize their new government after the American Revolution?
Guiding questions
- What powers did the Founders assign to the national government under the Articles of Confederation?
- How did this new government align with the goals of the Revolution as outlined in the Declaration of Independence?
- What were the limits and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Lesson at a glance
- Grade level: 4th–5th grade (written for grades 3–5)
- Time: about 135 minutes
- Downloadable lesson plan with student handouts
- Created by: Bill of Rights Institute
- Cost: free
This free resource was created by Bill of Rights Institute, an AFEEF member organization. Open the full lesson on the original site:
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