The Voting Record of the Constitution

Learning Objectives

Students will use the interpretation tools available in the activity to analyze a voting record of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Students will use the data to determine the degree of agreement and debate that existed when legislators were crafting the US Constitution.

Instructions

This activity may be used during a lesson about the Constitutional Convention in 1787. For grades 5-8. Approximate time needed is 60 minutes.

Start the lesson with a brief role-play (15 minutes) that can highlight the issue of a group coming to a decision (e.g. choosing a class motto, class song, or a snack for the next day’s class). Observe the role-play. Students may take votes, explain their reasons, debate with other students, etc. After this role-play, debrief students and discuss the way a final decision was (or was not) made.

After the debrief, segue to a discussion of the Constitutional Convention and its voting record which documents the way the delegates from individual states voted on important issues between May and September 1787.

Use this activity as a class, in small groups, in pairs, or individually. Direct students to analyze the voting record, look for votes that were more divided (i.e. closer to 6-6 split) and votes that were more united (closer to 12-0 vote). Ask them to note these and other important issues that are listed on the sample pages from the voting record.

When students have clicked “When You’re Done” in the activity, ask them to respond to the follow-up questions. Then engage them in a class discussion that could include:

• Which issues had the most agreement? Which issues had the most disagreement?
• In general, how were states divided on some of these issues? Did they divide based on region? Based on their state’s population? Other factors?
• Overall, which 3 votes on these several pages do you think were the most significant to the final ratified Constitution. Explain.