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6th grade · Social Studies · Unit 6 of 14

Building a Government

Articles, Constitution and Bill of Rights

What your child practices

Why the Articles of Confederation were replaced, the compromises of 1787, the three branches, checks and balances, federalism and the Bill of Rights (1791).

Alabama Course of Study content standard: 6.10; 6.11 · the Articles of Confederation and the compromises of the Constitutional Convention

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The Articles of Confederation were weak: Congress could not collect taxes.
  2. The Constitution (1787) set up three branches: Congress makes laws and declares war; the president carries them out; the courts decide what laws mean.
  3. George Washington was the first president.

Example: Which branch decides what laws mean? Congress makes laws; the president carries them out. The courts interpret them. Answer: judicial

Building a Government in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 6 of 14 in 6th grade Social Studies, after The American Revolution and before Founding Ideals.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Why is the Constitution called a "living document"?

    • It changes every day by itself
    • It can be amended as the country changes
    • It is printed on plants
    • It was written last year

  2. Question 2

    Where did delegates meet in 1787 to write the Constitution?

    • Washington, D.C.
    • Philadelphia
    • Boston
    • New York City

  3. Question 3

    What are checks and balances?

    • A way to pay taxes
    • The president controls everything
    • Each branch can limit the others' power
    • Banks check accounts

  4. Question 4

    Why was Shays' Rebellion (1786–1787) important?

    • It created the Bill of Rights
    • It started the French Revolution
    • It showed the national government was too weak to keep order
    • It ended the Revolution

  5. Question 5

    The Supreme Court is part of which branch?

    • Executive
    • Judicial
    • Legislative
    • None

  6. Question 6

    What was one big weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

    • Congress could not collect taxes
    • States had no power
    • There were too many courts
    • The president had too much power

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