Constitution Day: Other Resources

Take a virtual tour inside the Convention at the National Constitution Center’s Signers’ Hall.

And examination of the meaning and application of the United States Constitution and its preamble.

"A Promise of Freedom" is a 12 minute film based on the National Constitution Center's "Freedom Rising." It focuses on the history and founding of our nation and the important rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. The discussion booklet outlines concepts from that film.

This program examines the origins of the constitution of the United States, which every solider swears to uphold and defend. The provisions which deal with creation and control of the United States army are highlighted. Provides a history of the articles of confederation noting its weaknesses which caused problems for general Washington's continental army. As tension between the thirteen states grew, a meeting at Annapolis called for the constitutional convention at Philadelphia in May 1787. British and French influence on the framers is explained. Portrays debates among delegates regarding the need for a standing army under control of the national government. Points out those articles which pertain to the army and identifies 23 signers as veterans of the revolutionary war.

Nathan Dorn discusses the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, the first Constitution of the United States. A 1777 printing of these articles is part of the Law Library of Congress' rare book collection.

Thomas Jefferson received this first edition of The Federalist in book form while he was in Paris serving as minister to France. As the title page attests, this copy was originally a gift from Elizabeth Hamilton, wife of Alexander Hamilton, to her sister, Angelica Church, who was a close friend of Jefferson in Paris. Now considered to be the most significant American contribution to political thought, these essays supporting the ratification of the new Constitution first appeared in New York newspapers under the pseudonym "Publius."

A compilation of materials regarding Constitution Day for teachers to utilize in their instruction. Collection includes primary source documents, lesson plans, online collections, and other activities.

This Primary Source Set includes images, documents, maps, sound files and analysis tools to help teach about the United States Constitution.

Teaches how our government works, about the uses of primary source materials, and about civic responsibilities