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A National Archives Foundation educational resource using primary sources from the National Archives

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We the People

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The two documents you will see are George Washington’s copy of a draft of the U.S. Constitution and the final, ratified version of the Constitution of the United States. Notice the difference in the wording between the two and answer the questions provided.

Note: For a transcript of the preamble included in the ratified Constitution of the United States, select the document and click “View Primary Source Details.” Scroll down and click “Transcript.”

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View the full activity: https://docsteach.org/activity/we-the-people/

  • What is the difference between the opening of the draft and the final version?
  • What is the significance of changing the wording?
  • How does this change reflect the thinking of the Founders during the Constitutional Convention?
public-domain
To the extent possible under law, National Archives Foundation has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to “We the People”