This unit focuses on the concept of federalism and how it has been interpreted by the US Supreme Court. Over one to two weeks with this unit, students will learn and practice historical literacy skills that will help them learn how federalism establishes the foundation for the interaction between national, or federal, state, and tribal governments in the United States. They will develop knowledgeable and well-reasoned points of view on federalism and how it has evolved. They will read and assess primary and secondary sources written from different perspectives, analyze Supreme Court opinions, and develop a civic engagement project that integrates their knowledge of history with current issues rooted in debate over federal, state, and tribal governance.
Lesson Plan Author: Rhonda Kemp Webb
Historical Background Essays by: Gautham Rao, Associate Professor of History, American University, and James Riding In (Pawnee), Associate Professor Emeritus of American Indian Studies, Arizona State University
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.1: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.7: Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary describing political, social, or economic aspects of history/social science.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1.C: Propel conversations by posing and responding to questions that relate the current discussion to broader themes or larger ideas; actively incorporate others into the discussion; and clarify, verify, or challenge ideas & conclusions.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1.B: Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision-making, set clear goals and deadlines, and establish individual roles as needed.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1.D: Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives, summarize points of agreement and disagreement, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.8: Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
How did the US Constitution define the responsibilities of the federal government and state governments?
How have American politicians and judges explained the benefits of federalism?
Why have the responsibilities of the federal government and state governments changed?
How have American politicians and judges defined the relationship between state, federal, and tribal authorities?
Which policy issues have exposed tensions between the federal government and tribal governments?
“Federalism’s Foundational Documents: Important Phrases” with excerpts from the US Constitution (1787)
James Madison, “Federalist No. 45, The Alleged Danger from the Powers of the Union to the State Governments Considered” (1788)
Excerpts from McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) New York v. United States (1992), Printz v. United States (1997), Murphy v. NCAA (2018), Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831), Worcester v. Georgia (1832), Ex Pare Crow Dog (1883), the Major Crimes Act of 1885, and McGirt v. Oklahoma (2020)
Articles from AllSides.com, accessed through the Federal, State, and Tribal Governance TCTH website at gilderlehrman.org/tcth