Principles of the Constitution Quotation Match

This Principles of the Constitution Quotation Match challenges students to analyze and interpret primary source quotations from historical sources and connect them to the seven principles of the United States Constitution. Quotations are pulled from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, the Federalist Papers, and political speeches by President Franklin Roosevelt, Robert F. Kennedy, and Chief Justice Earl Warren. 

In this activity, students match each historic quotation to a principle of the Constitution and defend their analysis. This is great practice at analyzing primary source writing, as well as making clear connections to the principles of the Constitution. Perfect for middle and high school Civics, American Government, and American History classes. 

This resource is compatible with the following Florida State Standard for Middle School Civics:

• Standard 3: Demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and organization of government. 

This Principles of the Constitution Quotation Match includes:

✯ Two-Page Principles of the Constitution Quotation Match activity, in which students analyze ten primary source quotes from throughout history and connect them to the seven constitutional principles. 

The seven constitutional principles covered are:

• Federalism
• Republicanism
• Individual Rights
• Checks and Balances
• Separation of Powers
• Limited Government
• Popular Sovereignty 

Examples of the quotations included:

• “The powers not delegate to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” The 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution (Federalism)
• “I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves.” Thomas Jefferson (Popular Sovereignty)
• “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many […] may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” James Madison, The Federalist Papers, #47 (Separation of Powers)

✯ A one-page Principles of the Constitution Help Sheet, which defines and describes each of the seven principles of the Constitution. This page is optional, but can be a helpful reference as students analyze the quotations.

This is a challenging, engaging lesson that helps students gain a greater understanding of the seven principles of the Constitution. The constitutional principles can be very tricky vocabulary for students to wrap their heads around; I hope this resource makes it a little easier to see the importance of the principles and how they apply to our government today!

This resource is presented as a non-editable, printable PDF. It includes answer keys. It is also available digitally through TPT Easel, as well! The digital TPT Easel version can be assigned directly through Google Classroom, or you can generate a link that can be shared with your students over email or through your school’s LMS!

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