Video: Understanding the Constitution: Creating the Federal Government

Summary:

Description: This series takes a close look at the United States Constitution and how it works. How our country's founders forged the framework of our government comes to life in this engaging program. Students will learn about James Madison and Alexander Hamilton and their key roles in the creation of the Constitution. Viewers will come to understand why compromise played such an important role in the final drafting of the Constitution and how, because of the Founding Fathers' foresight, the Constitution remains the oldest written framework of a government in the world. © 2001 Discovery Education Grades: 3-8    (22 min.)

Segments:

  Introduction: A Virtual Tour of the Origins of American Government (00:45)
The American Revolution and the Articles of Confederation (02:45)
Drafting the United States Constitution (06:42)
James Madison and a Meeting to Revise the Articles of Confederation (03:40)
A Strong National Government: The Virginia Plan (02:04)
Debates in the Constitutional Convention (00:57)
Principles of the United States Constitution (02:45)
Separation of Powers in the United States Constitution (00:32)
Checks and Balances in the United States Constitution (01:00)
Shared Powers in the United States Constitution (01:07)
The Constitution Step-By-Step (01:43)
Amendments to the United States Constitution (05:56)
The Bill of Rights (02:07)
Amendments to the Constitution After the Bill of Rights (03:49)
Conclusion: The Enduring Constitution (00:20)