The constitution is the most important law of the United States.
That is what we mean when we say the constitution is the supreme law of the US.
Practice saying “The Constitution” because you will need to say it for many of the questions and answers 😊
(100 and 128) What is the supreme law of the land? –> The Constitution
The Constitution has the idea of self-government in the first three words.
Self-government means a government by the people, of the people, and for the people.
It means we have a democracy, and we elect representatives.
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? –> We the people
The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean? –> Self-government
Why did the United States need a constitution? Before the Constitution, the US didn’t have a clear system. States did not agree about important things like money, the military, or elections.
Also, many people wanted to protect Americans’ basic rights. For example, people wanted the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
The Constitution was a plan to form the government. It sets up the government. It also protects the basic rights of Americans.
What does the Constitution do? –> It sets up the government.
Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does. –> forms the government / protects the rights of the people
Representatives from the 13 states worked for almost 4 months to write the constitution. George Washington was the leader of the Constitutional Convention in Pennsylvania.
They talked, wrote, argued, and voted on every word. In September 1787, the representatives made the final changes.
How can you remember this year? For example, can you remember something that happened in 1987?
When was the Constitution written? –> 1787
What founding document was written in 1787? –> The Constitution
This meeting was called the “Constitutional Convention.” At the Constitutional Convention, the constitution was written.
(100 only) What happened at the Constitutional Convention? –>The founding fathers wrote the constitution / The Constitution was written.
At the Constitutional Convention, representatives talked about many important documents. Some of the ideas from the Declaration of Independence gave them some ideas.
So, the Declaration of Independence influenced the US Constitution. Also, the Federalist Papers influenced the US Constitution.
Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one. –> The Declaration of Independence / The Federalist Papers
After the constitution was written, every state voted to agree or disagree with it.
Alexander Hamilton wrote most of the Federalist Papers. John Jay and James Madison wrote some of the Federalist Papers, too. They explained why the US needed this constitution.
You can remember Hamilton from this song:
(100 and 128) The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. –> Alexander Hamilton / John Jay / James Madison
Alexander Hamilton is famous for many things. Name one. –> one of the writers of the Federalist Papers
Why were the Federalist Papers important? –> They helped people understand the (U.S.) Constitution/They supported passing the (U.S.) Constitution
- What is the supreme law of the land?
- The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
- What does the Constitution do?
- When was the Constitution written?
- What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
- The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.