Constitutional Convention: Founding Mothers Create a Government

At the time of the Constitutional Convention nearly all Americans firmly believed God had designed different duties for men and women. The idea of women taking an active part in politics would have almost unimaginable. Nevertheless, a mysterious affliction has been contracted by all the potential male delegates to the Constitutional Convention and they have made the unanimous decision to send their wives to negotiate in their place. Students in this lesson will now be challenged to assume the rule of a Framer’s wife and charged with negotiating a new Constitution for the United States. Included is a background for students and teachers, individual letters written by actual male delegates to their wives, and discussion questions and extension activities to broaden the experience.