Scholars Online: Vidoes for Readings
A More Perfect Union: American Independence and the Constitution
The printed curriculum unit A More Perfect Union: American Independence and the Constitution examines the context in which the U.S. Constitution was framed. Students explore parallels between the debates of America's formative years to those of today. (See detailed description and ordering information.)
Videos for Readings: The videos below follow the outline of the printed curriculum unit. The headings correspond to the headings in the student readings.
Videos for Lessons accompany lessons in the teacher's guide of the printed curriculum unit.
Scholars
Gordon Wood
Brown University
Michael Vorenberg
Brown University
Part I: In the Beginning—Englishmen in the New World
Part II: The Widening Split
Optional Reading: The War of Independence
How was the American Revolution more radical than the founders intended? [Gordon Wood - 1:11]
How did the War of Independence affect people’s views of slavery? [Gordon Wood - 2:22]
Part III: The Articles of Confederation
<How did the relationship between states develop after the War of Independence? [Gordon Wood - 1:36]
Part IV: The Road to the Constitutional Convention
Why did Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagree about representation? [Gordon Wood - 3:32]
Part V: The Constitution of 1787
How democratic was the United States in its early years? [Gordon Wood - 1:17]
What is the basic principle of American democracy? [Michael Vorenberg - 3:06]
How did the Constitution exclude certain groups? [Michael Vorenberg - 2:56]
Part VI: Two Hundred Years of Constitutional Change
Why has the U.S. Constitution endured for more than 200 years? [Gordon Wood - 1:18]
Why has the U.S. Constitution endured for more than 200 years? [Michael Vorenberg - 2:18]
Why did the Constitution have to be amended to abolish slavery? [Michael Vorenberg - 1:55]
What is the role of the Constitutional amendment? [Michael Vorenberg - 3:06]
