Introduction

8th Grade TEKS Objectives covered: 1c, 2b, 3a, 5a, 16a, 16b, 16d, 18a

The colony (state) you live in is facing a dilemma. You are currently being governed by the Articles of Confederation. It is the first constitution that the country has ever had. There is a group of people calling for a change. They want a new Constitution of “Law of the Land”. The local newspaper, The Colonial Times, has been reluctant to print the arguments for or against the change. The paper has finally agreed to print four opinions on the matter. With this in mind, you have decided to closely examine the issue and become a voice for the community.


In the following WebQuest, you will use the power of teamwork and the abundant resources on the Internet to learn all about the WebQuest - Constitutional Debate. Each person on your team will learn one piece of the puzzle and then you will come together to get a better understanding of the topic.

The Quest

You are to be citizens of this colonial town. Each group will represent citizens of the town. There will be four different citizens of the town that fall into three basic groups. Those groups are

1. People that want change – The Federalists

2. People that do not want to change – The Anti-Federalists

3. People that have not yet made up their minds on which side to support

A. The merchant
B. The Legislator from the small state

Your task is to conduct research on the Internet to learn more about your position in order to defend it. If you are one of the undecided, then you must choose one side to support and then help them defend their position.

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class.

The Process

1. Divide up the four roles among the group members.
2. Each member goes to his/her web page where they
will find
a. Arguments to support their position
b. Background information on why the person
holds that position.
c. Links to the Internet to help you research
your role.
3. Read your position regarding changing the
government
4. Conduct your Internet research.
5. Debate and defend your position among the
members of your group.
6. Meet with others that have your role and create
a letter to the editor of the Colonial Times.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of who? what? where? when? why? and how? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can.

To return to this page after visiting the link, just hit the back button on your browser.

• Articles of Confederation - Our First Constitution: The Articles of Confederation
• The Constitution - The Constitution of the United States (without the amendments)
• Highlights of the Articles of Confederation's weaknesses - The weakness of the Articles of Confederation are shown.

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

Federalist - for a new constitution

Federalist - You are for a new form of government. You no longer believe that the Articles of Confederation are effective and must be replaced. Look for facts in order to support your position. Answer the question 'Why' and 'How'. Why do I support change and How does it better our country.

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Federalist - for pushing for a new constitution.

To return to this page after visiting the link, just hit the back button on your browser.

• The Federalist's View - The Federalist

Anti-Federalist - against a new constitution

Anti-Federalist - You are against a new form of government. You are happy with the Articles of Confederation and are resisting change. You job is to ask 'Why' and 'What'. Why should we change? What are your fears for the country that cause you to be opposed to a new form of government?

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Anti-Federalist who is opposed to a new government.

To return to this page after visiting the link, just hit the back button on your browser.

• The Anti-Federalist - The Anti-Federalist's Point of View

Merchant - undecide on the issue

The Merchant - You are a merchant that must trade with customers in the other colonies and have had several unresolved disputes with them in the past. You are undecided as to the need of a new government. You must as the questions 'How' and 'What'. How will the new government be for business? What problems do I have and will the new government help solve them?

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Merchant - undecided on the issue:

To return to this page after visiting the link, just hit the back button on your browser.

• Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation - Decribes the weak points of the Articles of Confederation
• Coparisons for the Merchant - Comparing the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution

Legislator from a small state - undecided on the issue

Legislator from a small state - As a representative for a small state you are concerned how a new constitution will affect your state. You must answer the questions 'What' and 'How'. What will this do to my state (States Rights), and how will it affect the country. You must balance what is good for the state and what is good for the country as a whole.

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to a Legislator from a small state - undecided on the issue:

To return to this page after visiting the link, just hit the back button on your browser.

• Comparisons for the Legislator - Comparing the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution
• Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation - Describes the weak points of the Articles of Confederation

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of WebQuest - Constitutional Debate. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Question as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task/Question. Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out to the Colonial Times.


Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person or organization.

2. Give background information that shows you understand the topic.

STATE THE TASK / QUESTION AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the email message. After writing the letter, take the main ideas and put them in a Power Point presentation to be presented in class. Use the link below to make contact. Send your letter to the editor and make sure your teacher gets a copy.

Your Contact is: the designated contact

Conclusion

What is the fate of the government? Did the leaders of the country make the right decisions? Have some of the arguments that the opposition had come true? In class we will discuss some of these issues and see if what was true over 200 years ago is still true today.

Now you all know a lot more about what went on over two hundred years ago in our country. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of WebQuest - Constitutional Debate could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.