Political Growth and Western Expansion:
1781 to the Mid 1800s
Session 1: Virginians and the
Establishment of the New American Nation

Materials

• Pictures of James Madison, George Mason, and Thomas Jefferson
• Chart paper/chalkboard
• Markers
• Drawing paper and crayons
• Copy of the Constitution of the United States of America
• “Document Match-up Game” (Attachment A)
• Butcher paper/bulletin board paper
• Textbook, trade books, or other instructional materials

Instructional Activities

NOTE: Pictures of James Madison, George Mason and Thomas Jefferson can be found at Social Studies Curriculum Resources: Posters on Virginia Studies. <http://chumby.dlib.vt.edu/melissa/posters/vastudiesposter.html>.

1. Begin the unit by telling the students that Virginia played an important role in the establishment of the new American nation. The actions and ideas of Virginians formed the basis for the new constitutional government of the United States.
   
   
2. Introduce a famous Virginian, James Madison.
   •    A constitution is a set of rules and laws that tells how a government is organized and run. Discuss why rules are made.
   •    Review how rules were made at the beginning of the school year. Ask students, “If a new country is being formed, what are some of the things that could happen if there were no rules that people had to follow?” Have the students draw their ideas and share. Discuss the reasons for rules: protection, safety, and order.
   •    Review that a constitution is a plan of government that outlines how the government is organized and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
   
   
3. Discuss how James Madison believed in the importance of having a United States Constitution. Explain that he kept detailed notes during the Constitutional Convention and that his skills at compromise helped the delegates reach agreement during the difficult process of writing the Constitution of the United States of America. This earned him the title “Father of the Constitution.”
   Use the following Web sites to guide the students in a brief introduction to the Constitution.
   •    Documents of American History. Virginia Department of Education <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/AmericanDoc99.pdf>
   •    Charters of Freedom. <http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/declaration_history.html>
   
   
4. Show a picture of George Mason, and discuss how his Virginia documents were used to help create documents for the new nation.
   •    Explain that he was concerned about individual rights.
   •    Ask the students to define rights. List their responses and relate how the Constitution protects people’s rights.
   •    Refer to the Bill of Rights and explain how it was added after the Constitution was written. Tell students that the first ten amendments (or revisions) are called the Bill of Rights and are based on George Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights.
   
   
5. Use the following Web sites to have the students read and research the Virginia Declaration of Rights:
   •    Virginia Declaration of Rights. The National Archives. <http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/virginia_declaration_of_rights.html.>
   •    “Historic Human Rights Documents.” Gunston Hall Plantation. <http://gunstonhall.org/documents/vdr.html>
   
   
6. Show a picture of Thomas Jefferson, and have the students recall what they know about him.
   Remind the students that when the colonists came they were required to worship in the same church.
   •    Explain that the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, written by Thomas Jefferson, says that people should be free to worship as they please.
   •    Explain that the document was written first for the Virginia Colony, but later became part of the United States Constitution as the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom.
   
   
7. Use the following Web sites as a resource for students to complete graphic organizer about Thomas Jefferson.
   •    Graphic Organizers. <http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/> and <http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/torganiz.htm>
   •    “Thomas Jefferson.” The American Presidency. <http://ap.grolier.com/browse?type=profiles.#pres>.
   •    “Thomas Jefferson.” The White House. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tj3.html>
   
   
8. Use the following Web sites to introduce the students to The Virginia Statue of Religious Freedom.
   •    “Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.” PBS. <http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/enlight/religi.htm>.
   •    “Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.” Library of Virginia <http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwedo/k12/bor/vsrftext.htm>.
   
   
9. Optional activity: Divide the class into four groups. Have one child per group lie on butcher paper while others trace his or her outline. Have the students turn the outline into George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, or James Madison. Have the group dress the figure and list the contributions of each patriot in forming the new nation.
   
   
10. Optional activity: Play the “Document Match-up Game” (Attachment A).