Oodles of Constitution Day Resources

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Franklin charms the ladies(Cross post from History Tech)

It’s that time of year again. Constitution Day 2014. September 17.

You know the story. A group of guys from different parts of the country with different ideas of how to govern got together and came up with a pretty amazing document. My favorite Founding Father?

Ben Franklin. He’s kind of like the sleeper pick in your fantasy football league – everyone knows he’s out there but they ignore him because all the focus is on Jefferson or Madison or one of the other first rounders. But you draft him anyway cause you know he’s got the skills.

Ben was smart, irreverent, great with people, well-read, the ladies loved him, he had that whole kite / electricity / scientist thing working, and was by far the best part of 1776 and John Adams. What’s not to love?

And so it’s fun to go back and read some of what Ben had to say about the document he was preparing to sign:

Mr. President,

I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others.

In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other.

I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an Assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies . . .

Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best.

The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good . . . Much of the strength and efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts and endeavors to the means of having it well administered.

On the whole, Sir, I cannot help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it, would with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility – and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.

There’s a lot going on here. Compromise. Commitment. Loyalty. Being open to different opinions. Respect for others. Two centuries later, Ben’s still working it.

So celebrating the document makes sense.

Constitution Day is an American federal holiday that recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution and also recognizes all who have become citizens due to either coming of age or naturalization. It is always observed on September 17, the day the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787.

But you may be scrambling a bit to find a few useful resources. To help as you plan your activities, I’ve put together a short list of goodies.

Civics Renewal Network
When the Constitutional Convention ended in Philadelphia, a bystander asked Benjamin Franklin: “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin answered: “A republic, if you can keep it.” Today, the Civics Renewal Network says: A republic, if we can teach it.

Lots of cool stuff here from 26 partner organizations.

Center for Civic Education
A variety of lesson plans for all grades

National Constitution Center
Lessons, video clips, resources searchable by grade level

Constitution Day Portal
EDSITEment | Resources, Interactive, Documents
Lots of resources and materials including many available in Spanish

iCivics
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner founded iCivics back in 2009 to help teachers and students better understand the workings of American government. Lessons and resources including some awesome video games and sims.

National Council for the Social Studies
Lessons, links, resources for teaching the Constitution

National Endowment for Humanities
This year, the NEH will celebrate Constitution Day by honoring the Constitution together with another pivotal document from U.S. history: the Emancipation Proclamation. From the NEH’s Emancipation Resource Portal, you can access resources and learn more about planned events. Not to be missed?

  • A live, streamed performance on Constitution Day. A panel of Civil War scholars will “recreate the national scene and the dilemmas facing Americans on Sept. 22, 1862.” Students will be able to submit questions via Twitter or email. (Register your “watch party” here.)

Constitution Day
TeachingHistory | Resources, Interactive, Documents
A large collection of Constitution related goodies.

Here’s a few more that might be useful!

You might also find some resources over at Social Studies Central’s Economics, Geography & Government page.

About Glenn Wiebe

I work as a social studies specialist at ESSDACK, an educational service center in Hutchinson, Kansas. Before coming to ESSDACK, I taught middle school US History and higher ed social science classes.

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