aidemia--modules-lessonplan_request	Titles of parts of the lesson must be formatted as headings
What to create	Lesson plan
Which subject	History
What topic	articles of confederation
What length (min)	45
What age group	Year or Grade 11
Include homework
Include images descriptions
Any other preferences	EQ: How did the United States’ colonial past shape the Constitution and allow it to last for over 200 years? Aim: Did the Articles of Confederation create an effective form of government? Why or why not? Objective: I can explain how and why the American leaders went about creating a government for the new nation as evidenced by assessing their creation with a claim activity and Regents-based MCQ practice. Success Criteria: Review reasons for colonial independence by creating a list of grievances. Analyze secondary source text on Articles of Confederation by completing annotations. Assess the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation by discussing its strengths and weaknesses and making predictions. Complete summary assessment by answering multiple choice questions. Do Now: Tyrannical government: a government that is unjust, cruel or oppressive (does not allow freedoms to citizens) Colonists believed the government of Great Britain was tyrannical. List at least 3 rea

Lesson Plan: Articles of Confederation

Academic Subject: History

Grade Level: 11

Duration: 45 Minutes

Essential Question (EQ)

How did the United States’ colonial past shape the Constitution and allow it to last for over 200 years?

Aim

Did the Articles of Confederation create an effective form of government? Why or why not?

Objective

I can explain how and why the American leaders went about creating a government for the new nation as evidenced by assessing their creation with a claim activity and Regents-based MCQ practice.

Success Criteria

• Review reasons for colonial independence by creating a list of grievances.
• Analyze secondary source text on the Articles of Confederation by completing annotations.
• Assess the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation by discussing its strengths and weaknesses and making predictions.
• Complete summary assessment by answering multiple choice questions.

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Do Now (10 Minutes)

Tyrannical Government: A government that is unjust, cruel, or oppressive (does not allow freedoms to citizens).
Instructions:

1. Reflect on the quote above.
2. List at least 3 grievances the colonists had against Great Britain that contributed to their belief that it was a tyrannical government.

Expected Responses

Students should provide grievances such as:

• Imposition of taxes without representation.
• Restrictions on trade and economic growth.
• Limitations on civil liberties and rights.

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Direct Instruction (15 Minutes)

Overview of the Articles of Confederation

1. Historical Context: Discuss the establishment of the Articles of Confederation as the first governing document of the United States following independence.
2. Key Features:
   • Emphasize the limited powers of the federal government.
   • Discuss the major provisions including state sovereignty, the lack of a national executive, and the inability to levy taxes or regulate commerce.
3. Strengths of the Articles:
   • Successfully waged the Revolutionary War.
   • Northwest Ordinance established a process for admitting new states.
4. Weaknesses of the Articles:
   • Economic instability due to inability to tax.
   • Inability to enforce laws or regulate interstate commerce.
   • Lack of a centralized military force.

Class Discussion

• Engage students in a discussion about how the weaknesses led to the eventual call for a Constitutional Convention.

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Guided Practice (10 Minutes)

Analyzing a Secondary Source

Activity Instructions: Distribute a secondary source text outlining the Articles of Confederation.

• Ask students to annotate the text by identifying key points and arguments related to the effectiveness of the Articles.
• Focus on particular sections that address both the strengths and weaknesses.

Annotations Guideline

Students should highlight:

• Evidence of success with foreign relations.
• Instances of internal dissent and economic struggles.

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Group Activity (5 Minutes)

Claim Activity

1. Divide students into small groups.
2. Each group will summarize their findings from the annotated text.
3. Assign each group to prepare a claim: Was the government under the Articles of Confederation effective? They must provide supporting evidence from their analysis.

Expected Outcomes

Groups will present their claims and supporting evidence with a focus on comparisons between strengths and weaknesses.

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Independent Practice (5 Minutes)

Summary Assessment

Multiple Choice Quiz: Distribute a short quiz featuring Regents-based multiple-choice questions regarding the Articles of Confederation.

• Questions should cover:
  • Key features and provisions.
  • Strengths and weaknesses.
  • Implications for future governance.

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Closure (5 Minutes)

Recap and Reflection

1. Revisit the essential question: How did the U.S. colonial past shape the Constitution and allow it to last for over 200 years?
2. Encourage students to reflect on the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation:
   • What lessons did the U.S. leaders learn that helped them in drafting the Constitution?

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Homework

• Write a brief paragraph summarizing your stance on whether the Articles of Confederation were an effective form of government, incorporating insights gained from today's lesson. Include references to specific grievances and strengths/weaknesses discussed.

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This lesson plan encourages critical thinking, discussion, and engagement with historical texts to assess the foundational issues surrounding American governance.