Georgia Historical Society Resources for teaching the United States Constitution

Let GHS help you teach the United States Constitution in your classroom. GHS educational resources are aligned to the Georgia Standards for Excellence and offer a unique insight into the Revolutionary Era. Study the U.S. Constitution through the lens of Georgia history within the wider story of American History.

Primary Source Analysis: Abraham Baldwin’s Draft Copy of the United States Constitution, 1787 • Digital access to Abraham Baldwin’s Draft Copy of the United States Constitution, 1787 with handwritten notes made by Baldwin • Digital access to a transcript of handwritten notes made by Baldwin • Featured Historical Figure Abraham Baldwin and the Constitutional Convention • Was the Great Compromise of 1787 fair?

Suggested Topics of Discussion for teaching with Abraham Baldwin’s Draft Copy of the U.S. Constitution, 1787 • Discuss the purpose of writing drafts. Writing is a process that involves many steps that can include drafting, revising, and editing before a document is published. What was the purpose of providing Constitutional Convention Delegates with draft copies to revise? Would Delegates have competing views on how the Constitution is written? • This Draft copy of the U.S. Constitution is missing the Bill of Rights (and other amendments). Why are the amendments missing? What was the purpose of adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution? • Abraham Baldwin played a key role in the Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention. Read about his role as a compromiser on his Featured Historical Figures page.

Today in Georgia History videos about the Revolutionary Era and the U.S. Constitution • Abraham Baldwin: Georgia Signer of the U.S. Constitution o Activity Worksheet • Georgia Ratifies the U.S. Constitution • William Few: Georgia’s Other Signer of the U.S. Constitution • The Siege of Savannah o Siege of Savannah: Competing Points of View Map Activity

Sophia’s Schoolhouse Videos and Classroom Activities • Top 10 Reasons to Study the United States Constitution with Stan Deaton • Georgia in the American Revolution: Videos, Teacher Guide, and Classroom Activities • Whigs or Tories: Choosing Allegiance in Revolutionary Georgia • Understanding the Constitutional Convention • Georgians React to the Constitution • Runaway Slave Advertisements From the American Revolution • Women in Revolutionary Georgia

Primary Source Sets and Online Courses • Georgia in the American Revolutionary Era • For our Posterity: The Creation of the U.S. Constitution and Georgia’s Role in Securing the Dream of Liberty (online Course with instructions and questions)