Process

You will be assigned to work in groups of four and will be given the name of one of the 10 men who served as President under the Articles of Confederation.  Each student in the group should choose one of the four roles below and complete the assignment described.  You will have three class periods to complete your project.  Refer to the “Evaluation” page for specific grading criteria.

Congressman:  Learn about the job that Congressmen do by visiting the site listed on the “Resources” page.  Then investigate the listed web sites to learn more about the president your group was assigned.  Write a speech that will teach the class about your president, including his term of office and his accomplishments (during the Revolutionary War, in his capacity as President, or later in his life).  Make sure you know where he was born, lived, and died as you will take on the role of a Congressman from one of those states.  Work with the Legislative Assistant and Lobbyist to design a proposed monument to your president.  Create a picture of the monument (you may use Paint on the computer or may draw a picture on blank white copy paper).  You will deliver your speech (approximately 3-5 minutes long) to the “House of Representatives” (the class) and must be prepared to answer any questions.

Legislative Assistant:  Learn about the job that Legislative Assistants do by visiting the site listed on the “Resources” page.  Then investigate the listed web sites to learn more about the president your group was assigned.  You will create a web page (using Microsoft FrontPage) that will teach “the citizens of your state” (the class) about your president, including his term of office and his accomplishments.  You must include a picture of him.  Work with the Congressman and Lobbyist to design a proposed monument to your president.  Make sure you cite your sources for all information and pictures in a bibliography at the bottom of your page.

Lobbyist:   Learn about the job that Lobbyists do by visiting the sites listed on the “Resources” page.  Then investigate the listed web site to learn more about the strengths and successes of the Articles of Confederation.  You will create a web page (using Microsoft FrontPage) that will solicit support from the “citizens of your state” (the class) for the building of the proposed monument to your president.  Work with the Congressman and Legislative Assistant to design a monument to your president.  Place the picture of the monument (which the Congressman will create) on your web page (using the scanner if the picture was drawn on paper).  Your web page must teach “the public” (the class) about the Articles of Confederation, including when it was in effect, how it structured the government (who had what powers), and what successes the government had under it.  Make sure you cite your sources for all information at the bottom of your page.

Consumer Watchdog:  Learn about the job that Consumer Watchdogs do by visiting the site listed on the “Resources” page.  Then investigate the listed web sites to learn more about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and “pork barrel legislation”.  You will create a  web page (using Microsoft FrontPage) that teaches “the public” (the class) about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation (including problems the government had while they were in effect) and about “pork barrel spending” in today’s government (you must include a definition and at least one current example).  Make sure you cite your sources for all information at the bottom of your web site.