Revolution Constitution and Civil Rights in Order

Supplied materials

• Paper and pencil; drawing or spoken answers are welcome.
• Topic notes: Declaration in 1776: the announcement of independence from Britain. Constitution in 1787: the document drafted to establish the federal government’s framework. Thirteenth Amendment in 1865: the amendment abolishing slavery with its stated punishment exception. Civil Rights Act in 1964: legislation addressing discrimination in public places and employment.
• Original exercise cards: A card dates the independence announcement to 1776. / A card describes the 1787 constitutional convention document. / A card places constitutional abolition after the Civil War. / A card dates major antidiscrimination legislation to 1964. / A card places the government framework after independence and before abolition. / A card dates the abolition amendment to 1865. / A card places federal civil-rights legislation about a century after abolition. / A card describes a 1776 break with Britain.

Learn the idea

Several major U.S. events occurred in a sequence: independence was declared in 1776; the Constitution was drafted in 1787; the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified in 1865; the Civil Rights Act was enacted in 1964. Later protections addressed inequalities that earlier founding documents had not eliminated.

Declaration in 1776: the announcement of independence from Britain. Constitution in 1787: the document drafted to establish the federal government’s framework. Thirteenth Amendment in 1865: the amendment abolishing slavery with its stated punishment exception. Civil Rights Act in 1964: legislation addressing discrimination in public places and employment.

Use the date and action in the card. Match them with the independence declaration, Constitution, abolition amendment or civil-rights law in the notes. Ask an adult to read the notes and cards aloud. Point, draw or say your answer.

1. Ask an adult to read the four notes. Find the words Declaration in 1776, Constitution in 1787, Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, Civil Rights Act in 1964.
2. Use the date and action in the card. Match them with the independence declaration, Constitution, abolition amendment or civil-rights law in the notes.
3. Read the worked answer. Then try the other cards and explain which words helped you choose.
4. Point to, draw or say two different examples: one for Declaration in 1776 and one for Constitution in 1787. Explain how their clues differ.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

New card: “A card describes a 1776 break with Britain.” Match it with a note, then point to or say the words that helped. Check: The card says: “A card describes a 1776 break with Britain.” That matches Declaration in 1776. Declaration in 1776 is the announcement of independence from Britain.

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