Introduction

Enduring Knowledge: The Constitution has endured enormous changes in society through its ability to adapt via the amendment process.

When you hear the words "freedom, liberty, and rights," what comes to mind? What freedoms do you hold most dear? What guarantees those freedoms?

In the United States of America, we are blessed to have freedoms that many people around the world can only dream of having. Many of those rights were not originally stated in the U.S. Constitution; they had to be added through the amendment process. The Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution protect the rights of "We the People" even as our society changes over time. click markers in the image below to learn more about the Bill of Rights.

Open the Bill of Rights and Amendments in a new tab | Bill of Rights and Amendments text version

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • summarize the formal amendment process.
  • explain why the Bill of Rights is an enduring key element of the Constitution.
  • identify the elastic clause, Bill of Rights, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Nineteenth Amendments to our constitution

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Government objective(s): 3.2, 3.3.

This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standards: R2, R4, R6, R7, R8, W1, W4, W6, and W9.

 

    Next Page