Lesson 7: What Basic Ideas about Government and Rights Did the State Constitutions Include?
What did the colonies do to establish themselves as functioning free and independent states? (Video)
Development of state constitutions; characteristics of state constitutions: written, higher law, frameworks for government, rejection of parliamentary sovereignty; popular sovereignty; strong legislatures; contracts between a sovereign people and their government; differences in who could participate in government; separation of powers.
Student Questions: Unit 1, Lesson 7, Sections 1-3 (pdf download)
What kind of rights did state constitutions identify? (Video)
Sources of rights common law, natural rights theory, reactions to British rule; characteristics of rights - diversity, lack of uniformity, freedom of speech not a priority, freedom of press a common priority, established religions, separation of church and state.
What basic ideas about rights were included in state constitutions? (Video)
State constitutions structured to protect rights; state governments structured to protect rights; Virginia Declaration of Rights - men equally free by nature, certain rights inherent, government has positive duty to foster attainment of rights, popular sovereignty, government responsible for protection and security, separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers.
Africans In America: Indentured Servants (Video)
A video that chronicles indentured servitude in America.
The Fight for the Right to Vote in the United States (Video)
Nicki Beaman Griffin outlines the history of the long fight for a more inclusive electorate.
The New Nation (Video)
The New Nation, a segment from the America's History in the Making video course, describes how America was shaped by the Revolutionary War. Produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Registration and log-in required. From Annenberg Media's Learner.org website. Length: 28 min., 25 sec.
The Fifth Virginia Convention (Audio)
A discussion about the Virginia Declaration of Rights and its contribution to the Bill of Rights and American Constitution. From the Colonial Williamsburg podcast at History.org.
60-Second Civics, Episode 200: Legislative Supremacy, Part 2 (Audio)
The reasons for states' confidence in legislative supremacy.
60-Second Civics, Episode 201: Legislative Supremacy, Part 3 (Audio)
A third reason for states' confidence in legislative supremacy.
60-Second Civics, Episode 202: Legislative Supremacy, Part 4 (Audio)
Examples of legislative supremacy in state constitutions.
60-Second Civics, Episode 199: Legislative Supremacy, Part 1 (Audio)
The concept of legislative supremacy in American state constitutions.
60-Second Civics, Episode 198: Right To Vote In Early America (Audio)
Representation and the right to vote in early American state constitutions.
60-Second Civics, Episode 197: State Constitutions: Social Contract and Popular (Audio)
The ideas of social contract and popular sovereignty in state constitutions.
60-Second Civics, Episode 196: State Constitutions: Higher Law and Natural High (Audio)
Higher law and natural rights in state constitutions.
60-Second Civics, Episode 195: Principles of State Constitutions (Audio)
Common principles in all state constitutions.
60-Second Civics, Episode 194: State Governments After the Declaration, Part 2 (Audio)
State governments after 1776.
60-Second Civics, Episode 193: State Governments After the Declaration, Part 1 (Audio)
The beginning of our discussion of state governments after the Declaration of Independence.
60-Second Civics, Episode 203: Legislative Supremacy, Part 5 (Audio)
Continued discussion of legislative supremacy in state constitutions.
60-Second Civics, Episode 204: Massachusetts Constitution, Part 1 (Audio)
An examination of the Massachusetts constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 205: Massachusetts Constitution, Part 2 (Audio)
A discussion about the executive branch of the Massachusetts constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 206: Massachusetts Constitution, Part 3 (Audio)
The representation of various economic classes in the Massachusetts constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 207: Introduction to State Declarations of Rights (Audio)
The beginning of a discussion of state declarations of rights.
60-Second Civics, Episode 208: Virginia Declaration of Rights, Part 1 (Audio)
An examination of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
60-Second Civics. Episode 209: Virginia Declaration of Rights, Part 2 (Audio)
Continued discussion of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
60-Second Civic, Episode 210: Virginia Declaration of Rights, Part 3 (Audio)
A discussion of the rights protected by the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
60-Second Civics, Episode 211: States (Audio)
An examination of states' bills of rights.
60-Second Civics, Episode 212: States (Audio)
An examination of specific rights guaranteed in states' bills of rights.
60-Second Civics, Episode 213: States (Audio)
A discussion of features of states' bills or declarations of rights.
