Constitution Challenge

The Unfavorable State of the Confederacy

Overview
This lesson reviews the problems facing the Confederacy under the Articles of Confederation.

Standards — Social Studies
Grade 8
History, Benchmark F

5. Explain major domestic problems faced by the leaders of the new republic under the Articles of Confederation including these issues:

a. Maintaining national security.
b. Creating a stable economic system.
c. Dealing with war debts.
d. Collecting revenue.
e. Defining the authority of the central government.

Government, Benchmark B

3. Explain how events and issues demonstrated the need for a stronger form of governance in the early years of the United States:

a. Shays’ Rebellion.
b. Economic instability.
c. Government under the Articles of Confederation.

Economics, Benchmark C

4. Explain how lack of power to regulate the economy contributed to the demise of the Articles of Confederation and the creation of U.S. Constitution.

5. Explain how governmental protection of property rights and regulation of economic activity impacted the development of the U.S. economy.

Materials
• Textbooks
• Related books for research
• Internet
• Poster board
• Art supplies
• Expert Group worksheet

Procedure

Break the students into groups of three. Each group will become an expert on the topic it selects. The teacher can write the topics on index cards and have each group choose a card.
Students will do research on the topic. They will find five facts about their topic and then write a question for each fact.
A test could be given using the questions formulated by the students.
Possible group topics include the following:
• Internal problems
• International problems
• Interstate problems
• Government powers under the Articles of Confederation
• Maintaining national security
• Creating a stable economic system
• Dealing with war debt
• Collecting revenue
• Defining the authority of the central government
The groups will present their facts to the class. Students will plan how to teach the information. They should plan a strategy to ensure the class will remember what they want them to know. They should think about how they learn best. They can use PowerPoint, a video, a poster, a skit or any approach that will help the students remember the information.
Students should take notes during the presentation.

Evaluation
Review each group’s research notes and hold a group-teacher conference.

Presentation Rubric

CATEGORY	Excellent	Good	Satisfactory	Needs Improvement
Content	Shows a full understanding of the topic.	Shows a good understanding of the topic.	Shows a good understanding of parts of the topic.	Does not seem to understand the topic very well.
Preparedness	The student is completely prepared and has obviously rehearsed.	The student seems somewhat prepared, but might have benefited from more rehearsals.	The student is somewhat prepared, but it is clear that rehearsal was lacking.	The student does not seem at all prepared to present.
Stays on Topic	The student stays on topic 100 percent of the time.	The student stays on topic 99 percent to 90 percent of the time.	The student stays on topic 89 percent to 75 percent of the time.	It was hard to tell what the topic was.
Enthusiasm	Facial expressions and body language generate a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic from the audience.	Facial expressions and body language sometimes generate a strong interest and enthusiasm about the topic from the audience.	Facial expressions and body language are used to try to generate enthusiasm from the audience, but seem somewhat faked.	There is very little use of facial expressions or body language. Did not generate much interest in topic being presented.