Virginia SOL CE.1.c
The Standard
comparing and contrasting debates, compromises, and plans surrounding the drafting and ratification of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights
Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science · The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the foundations of the American constitutional democracy by
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students compare competing plans for representation and explain how major compromises settled disputes at the Constitutional Convention. They also compare Federalist and Anti-Federalist arguments and connect ratification debates to the addition of the Bill of Rights.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can identify each debate, describe both sides, and explain the resulting agreement or decision. They can use evidence from short sources to explain why some states demanded written protections for individual rights.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think the Bill of Rights was included in the original Constitution. They may believe the Great Compromise settled every disagreement. Some mistake the Three-Fifths Compromise as granting enslaved people three-fifths of a person's rights rather than counting them for representation and taxation.
How to Assess It
- Give students four boxes labeled issue, opposing views, compromise, and effect. Ask them to complete the boxes for representation in Congress or ratification and the Bill of Rights.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Use state population cards and counters to model representation under the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and Great Compromise.
Write a response explaining whether Anti-Federalists were right to withhold support until protections for individual rights were promised.
Play a card-matching game that pairs convention debates, opposing positions, compromises, and effects on the Constitution.
Design a student council legislature, then compare how equal and population-based representation would affect large and small classes.
Free download
Printable CE.1.c Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CE.1.c, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
- USI.7.b
describing the Constitutional Convention and the development of the Constitution of the United States, with an emphasis on the role of James Madison;
- USI.7.c
examining constitutional issues debated, including the role of the national government and the debate over ratifying the Constitution, the influence of the Fede...
- CE.5.c
comparing and contrasting civil and criminal cases; and
- 3.1.c
understanding the importance of supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights;
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.
Also for this standard:Make a WorksheetMake a QuizMake a Sub Lesson