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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Liberation and Deliberation: The North Carolina Ratification Debates of 1788

This lesson focuses on the deliberations over ratification of the US Constitution by the North Carolina legislators. In particular it traces the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-federalists found in the primary sources digitized in the Documenting the American South collection.

A lesson plan for grades 8 and 10–12 Social Studies

By Mark Laskowski

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

  • learn about the major issues dividing the Federalists and Antifederalists prior to ratification of the US Constitution.
  • gain a better understanding of the issues and personalities that characterized the NC constitutional convention.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

2 days

Materials/resources

Text or on-line copies of the convention proceedings.

Technology resources

Internet access to Documenting the American South resources.

Pre-activities

Prior to this lesson, students should be aware of the provisions of the proposed federal Constitution and how it sought to confront the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation.

Activities

  1. Students will be divided into four groups. Two will represent the Federalist side and two will represent the Anti-federalist side. Provide students with access to the proceedings of the convention on-line or in text form. Allow the students time to peruse the document, discuss major topics involved in the debates with their group members, and prepare for the simulation activity by completing Handout A (see attached).
  2. Allow all of the students representing the Federalists to meet together and all of the Antifederalists to meet together. They should be given enough time to combine and compare lists of characters, major arguments, and quotes. After students have assigned speaking parts and planned for opening statements, questions and answers, and listing of arguments, the session can begin.
  3. The debate can be chaired by the teacher and culminate in a final vote.

Assessment

Class discussion or writing assignment in which students address the following:

  • What are some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation government?
  • What were the major issues confronting North Carolinians in 1787?
  • To what extent did the proposed Constitution change the structure of government nationally?
  • To what extent might ratification affect the lives of North Carolinians? Would there be differences between rich and poor, slave and free?
  • What were the major philosophical and practical objections to the proposed Constitution? How did North Carolinian Federalists respond to those objections? Did their responses differ from Hamilton, Madison, and Jay in the Federalist Papers?
  • Having read the document, would you consider this to be civilized debate?
  • If this debate were happening today, how would you vote?

Supplemental information

Handout A attachment.

Related websites

Proceedings and Debates of the Convention of North Carolina

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 8

  • Goal 2: The learner will trace the causes and effects of the Revolutionary War, and assess the impact of major events, problems, and personalities during the Constitutional Period in North Carolina and the new nation.
    • Objective 2.05: Describe the impact of documents such as the Mecklenburg Resolves, the Halifax Resolves, the Albany Plan of Union, the Declaration of Independence, the State Constitution of 1776, the Articles of Confederation, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights on the formation of the state and national governments.

Grade 10 — Economics and Civics

  • Goal 2: The learner will analyze how the government established by the United States Constitution embodies the purposes, values, and principles of American democracy.
    • Objective 2.07: Identify modern controversies related to powers of the federal government that are similar to the debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over ratification of the United States Constitution.

Grades 11–12 — United States History

  • Goal 1: The New Nation (1789-1820) - The learner will identify, investigate, and assess the effectiveness of the institutions of the emerging republic.
    • Objective 1.01: Identify the major domestic issues and conflicts experienced by the nation during the Federalist Period.