Core Themes

Constitution and Governance

This theme will focus on the political history of the United States including:

• the development of legal and governmental processes based on American values;
• foundational documents and their evolution over time;
• attempts to expand freedom and democracy through high politics and
• the efforts of marginalized groups working outside of these established routes.

Teachers will examine the writings and actions of America's founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, along with the men and women who fought to solidify and expand American freedom and democracy through reform movements. Among other documents, participants will analyze the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist response, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the National Women's Suffrage Association. Teachers will establish local connections to these topics by examining the Northwest Ordinance, the 1802 and 1851 Ohio Constitutions, manuscripts pertaining to the second women's rights convention, minutes of the State Convention of the Colored Citizens of Ohio and the constitution of the United Mine Workers.