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7th grade · Social Studies · Unit 12 of 18

New York & the Constitution

Ratification, the first capital and state government

What your child practices

The ratification debate in New York and The Federalist Papers, New York City as the first capital, federalism, New York's own government, and how New York's constitution changed over time, including the end of slavery in 1827.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 7.4c; 7.5a; 7.5b; 7.5c · the debate over the Constitution in New York, federalism and the branches of government, and changes to New York's constitution

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The Federalist Papers argued for ratifying the Constitution. New York City was the first national capital; Albany became the state capital in 1797.
  2. Federalism shares power among national, state and local governments. Each state has 2 US senators.
  3. New York’s constitution changed over time: gradual emancipation began in 1799, and slavery ended in 1827.

Example: What does federalism mean? Power isn’t held in just one place. It is shared among national, state and local governments. Answer: Power is shared between the national, state and local governments

New York & the Constitution in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 12 of 18 in 7th grade Social Studies, after The Revolution in New York and before The Erie Canal & Early Industry.

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: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

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

    Which is a power of the national government?

    • running town libraries
    • issuing driver's licenses
    • setting local school hours
    • making treaties with other countries

  2. Question 2

    The first Congress, meeting in New York City in 1789, proposed…

    • the amendments that became the Bill of Rights
    • the Declaration of Independence
    • the Articles of Confederation
    • the Erie Canal

  3. Question 3

    The Great Compromise of 1787 created…

    • a Congress with no states
    • a single king
    • a court with no judges
    • a Senate with two members per state and a House based on population

  4. Question 4

    George Washington took the oath as the first president in 1789 at…

    • Faneuil Hall in Boston
    • Independence Hall in Philadelphia
    • the White House
    • Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City

  5. Question 5

    The Federalist Papers, which urged ratification of the Constitution, first appeared in…

    • London newspapers
    • Virginia churches
    • New York newspapers
    • a French book

  6. Question 6

    Why did New Yorkers argue so strongly over ratification?

    • New York was not a state
    • New York had no government
    • the state was large and wealthy, and many feared losing power to a national government
    • New York wanted a king

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