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After the Revolutionary War, the American colonies needed to
form a national government. Representatives from the different colonies met
in Philadelphia in 1787 to write a set of rules for the new country. The result
was the United States Constitution. It established three branches of government:
the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial. It also defined the rights
of states and of individuals.
This pathfinder will help you find information in the Onondaga County Public
Library and on the Internet about the Constitution.
Encyclopedia
Books
Magazines
Websites
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia article will provide an overview of the topic. Here is a link
to an online encyclopedia article on the U.S. Constitution. You may also use
an encyclopedia in your library.
Murphy, Bruce Allen. "Constitution
of the United States." World Book Online Reference Center.
2005. World Book, Inc. 1 Sept. 2005.
Books
Keywords and Phrases
Use these keywords and phrases to search for more information in the library’s
online catalog, online databases, and on the Internet:
Dewey Decimal Numbers
Browse the library shelves under these Dewey Decimal numbers for books on
the U.S. Constitution.
Books
Some books for students about the U.S. Constitution are listed here. To find
more books on this topic, search the online catalog using the suggested Keywords
and Phrases or browse the shelves in the library under the suggested Dewey
Decimal Numbers.
We
the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States by David Catrow
Dial, 2002. Grades 1-4
Humorous illustrations depict the
meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution.
We
the People: the Constitution of the United States of America
by Peter Spier
Doubleday, 1987. Grades 2-5
This is an artistic tribute to the
diversity of America and the ideals of the Constitution. An introduction
tells the story of the Constitution, and the full text of the document
appears at the end of the book.
The
Constitution by Suzanne LeVert
Benchmark, 2003. Grades 2-5
Part
of a series, this title presents simple information about the writing of
the Constitution, the three branches of the federal government, the Bill
of Rights, and the way the Constitution can be amended.
Shhh!
We're Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz; illustrated
by Tomie dePaola
Putnam, 1987. Grades 3-6
Words and pictures bring the
Constitutional Convention to life as the reader learns about the different
personalities that helped write the document.
A
More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution by Betsy
Maestro; illustrated by Guilio Maestro
Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1987.
Grades 3-6
The writing and ratification of the Constitution are described.
Creating
the Constitution, 1787 by Christopher Collier and James
Lincoln Collier
Benchmark, 1999. Grades 5-12
This entry in “The
Drama of American History” series describes
in detail the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.
“A
Convention of Delegates” : The Creation of the Constitution
by Denis J. Hauptly
Atheneum, 1987. Grades 6-12
The various personalities
present at the Constitutional Convention struggle to agree on the terms
of the document.
A
Kids’ Guide to America’s Bill of Rights: Curfews, Censorship,
and the 100-Pound Giant by Kathleen Krull; illustrated by
Anna DeVito
Avon, 1999. Grades 5-12
Lighthearted illustrations accompany
this examination of the meaning of the first ten amendments to the Constitution
and how they apply to young people in particular.
In
Defense of Liberty: The Story of America’s Bill of Rights
by Russell Freedman
Holiday House, 2003. Grades 6-12
Freedman describes
the origins of the Bill of Rights and discusses challenges to them.
The
Bill of Rights: How We Got It and What It Means by Milton
Meltzer
Thomas Crowell, 1990. Grades 6-12
The first section of the book
explores the history of the Bill of Rights; the second section explains
the meaning of each one; and the third section relates some of the cases
that have challenged them.
Magazines
Click on the links below for some useful magazine articles. Use the suggested “Keywords
and Phrases” to search for more resources on the library’s online
databases for students.
“A
Republic, If You Can Keep It” by Malcolm C. Jensen. Cobblestone,
Jan. 2003; v24.
This article discusses how the Framers of the Constitution
struggled with the issue of power and how to balance it.
"A
Product of Argument and Compromise" by Barbara Brooks Simons. Cobblestone,
Jan. 2003; v24.
This article explores the three branches of government
set up by the U.S. Constitution.
Websites
The following web sites pertain to the United States Constitution. Use
the suggested “Keywords and Phrases” to search the Internet for further
information.
Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government
for Kids
Basic information about the branches of the federal government,
the documents of American history, and citizenship is presented in grade-level
ranges.
The
Constitution of the United States
This web site of the National Archives
includes a transcript of the Constitution and information about the delegates
to the Constitutional Convention. It also covers the Bill of Rights and the
additional amendments to the Constitution.
Interactive Constitution
Select a specific section or phrase of the Constitution and receive an explanation
of its meaning.
Centuries
of Citizenship: A Constitutional Timeline
This interactive timeline highlights some of the key dates and events that
mark more than 200 years of constitutional history.