World History
The article Teaching about the U.S. Congress is another excellent ERIC Digest which gives ideas for teaching about American Congressional history and assorted helpful resources in teaching about it. It is from 2001. The authors are Thomas S. Vontz and Sarah E. Drake.
From past experience, teaching students about Congress is difficult. The students are either partisan (I am a Republican or I am a Democrat), cynical (all Congressmen are corrupt), or just plain ignorant with no desire to learn. They see all lessons I teach through one of these three lenses. Of course, there are always a few students who do keep an open mind. I guess my lesson plans should focus on moving past current events and focus on what Congress has done right in the past.
The Virginia Plan called for a two-house legislature: one to be elected by the people and the other to be chosen by the first house. The plan also called for proportional representation based on the population of each state.
Delegates from states with small populations vehemently opposed the Virginia Plan because it diminished their power in Congress relative to the states with large populations. According to the New Jersey Plan, each state would continue to have equal representation in the unicameral Congress of the United States.
Settling the disagreement over representation in Congress was crucial to the success of the Convention. The Convention eventually made the "Great Compromise." It provided for a two-house legislature in which states were represented on the basis of population in the House of Representatives and represented equally in the Senate.
- Father Gabriel Richard, First Catholic Priest In Congress
Father Robert Frederick Drinan died yesterday. He had served five terms as a member of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress from Massachusetts. He was the first voting member of Congress to be a Catholic priest. However, Father Drinan...
- Biographical Directory Of The United States Congress
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. On my continuing quest to find quality ready reference history sources on the Web, I discovered this great resource. It allows for searches for information on members of the US Congress from 1774 to...
- James Madison
James Madison. This is a decent biography of American President James Monroe. He is known for his work with the Federalist Papers and his presidency during the War of 1812. From the site: James Madison (March 16, 1751 - June 28, 1836) was the fourth...
- Wikinfo - United States Constitution
Wikinfo - United States Constitution. This is an article on the American Constitution with a lot of emphasis on history from the online encyclopedia Wikinfo. From the site: The path to the Constitution was neither straight nor easy. A draft document...
- Ghost Amendment: The Thirteenth Amendment That Never Was
Ghost Amendment: The Thirteenth Amendment that Never Was Article describing a pro-slavery constitutional amendment proposed by the American Congress in 1861. From the site: When the 36th Congress adjourned on March 3, 1861, it was anyone's...
World History
Teaching about the U.S. Congress
The article Teaching about the U.S. Congress is another excellent ERIC Digest which gives ideas for teaching about American Congressional history and assorted helpful resources in teaching about it. It is from 2001. The authors are Thomas S. Vontz and Sarah E. Drake.From past experience, teaching students about Congress is difficult. The students are either partisan (I am a Republican or I am a Democrat), cynical (all Congressmen are corrupt), or just plain ignorant with no desire to learn. They see all lessons I teach through one of these three lenses. Of course, there are always a few students who do keep an open mind. I guess my lesson plans should focus on moving past current events and focus on what Congress has done right in the past.
From the site:
Disagreements about the structure, functions, and powers of Congress were prominent at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Two proposals, the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan, framed debates about Congress. In response to the impotence of Congress under the Articles of Confederation, both plans were designed to increase the power of the national government, including Congress.
The Virginia Plan called for a two-house legislature: one to be elected by the people and the other to be chosen by the first house. The plan also called for proportional representation based on the population of each state.
Delegates from states with small populations vehemently opposed the Virginia Plan because it diminished their power in Congress relative to the states with large populations. According to the New Jersey Plan, each state would continue to have equal representation in the unicameral Congress of the United States.
Settling the disagreement over representation in Congress was crucial to the success of the Convention. The Convention eventually made the "Great Compromise." It provided for a two-house legislature in which states were represented on the basis of population in the House of Representatives and represented equally in the Senate.
- Father Gabriel Richard, First Catholic Priest In Congress
Father Robert Frederick Drinan died yesterday. He had served five terms as a member of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress from Massachusetts. He was the first voting member of Congress to be a Catholic priest. However, Father Drinan...
- Biographical Directory Of The United States Congress
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. On my continuing quest to find quality ready reference history sources on the Web, I discovered this great resource. It allows for searches for information on members of the US Congress from 1774 to...
- James Madison
James Madison. This is a decent biography of American President James Monroe. He is known for his work with the Federalist Papers and his presidency during the War of 1812. From the site: James Madison (March 16, 1751 - June 28, 1836) was the fourth...
- Wikinfo - United States Constitution
Wikinfo - United States Constitution. This is an article on the American Constitution with a lot of emphasis on history from the online encyclopedia Wikinfo. From the site: The path to the Constitution was neither straight nor easy. A draft document...
- Ghost Amendment: The Thirteenth Amendment That Never Was
Ghost Amendment: The Thirteenth Amendment that Never Was Article describing a pro-slavery constitutional amendment proposed by the American Congress in 1861. From the site: When the 36th Congress adjourned on March 3, 1861, it was anyone's...