Landing Page Content::National and State Standard Aligned Document-Based Lesson Plans::New York Grade Levels::New York Commencement Curriculum Peter Prejudice's New Breeches: A Federalist Satire of the Anti-Federalist Argument Content Area
New York Commencement level, Grade 11, United States History and Government
Standards
Standard 1: History of United States and New York. Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States and New York.
Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government. Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States and other nations; the United States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.
Key Idea #4
The study of civics and citizenship requires the ability to probe ideas and assumptions, ask and answer analytical questions, take a skeptical attitude toward questionable arguments, evaluate evidence, formulate rational conclusions, and develop and refine participatory skills.
Commencement 9-12
Consider the need to respect the rights of others, to respect others' points of view (Adapted from The National Standards for Civics and Government, 1994)
Core Currciulum
Unit Two: Constitutional Foundations For the United States Democractic Republic
I. The Constitution: The Foundation of American Society
4. Ratification
b. The debate: Federalist and Anti-Federalist arguments
Objectives
- Students will understand the perspective of the Anti-Federalists.
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Students will understand that the Anti-Federalists were not the “bad guys” but had reasonable opposition to the new Constitution.
Essential Question
For what reasons did the Anti-Federalists oppose the Constitution's ratification?
Terms to know:
Breeches- /ˈbrɪtʃ ɪz/ [brich-iz] knee-length pants or trousers, commonly worn by men and boys during the time of the Constitution’s ratification.
Consolidation- the result of combining or merging to create a new identity.
Anti-Federalist-an opponent to the ratification of the United States Constitution.
Federalist- a proponent of ratification of the United States Constitution.
Materials
1. Print off (or project ) the individual image of the newspaper article Peter Prejudice: The New Breeches (April 15, 1788) found here. From the transcription page, click the small source image to access the large pdf. Because it is a newspaper article, it is not handwritten and students can read from the actual image of the document where possible, increasing their historical exploration experience.
2. Students will need a paper and writing utensils to draw Peter Prejudice and his new breeches.
Background for the Teacher
Teacher’s Instructions
As you read the article as a class, make a list on the board of the Anti-Federalists’ arguments.
1. The Framers in the Federal (Constitutional) Convention were given instructions by their states to amend the Articles of Confederation. They went beyond their authorization.
2. The Federalists argued that if there was something about the proposed plan the people did not like they could amend it, but Anti-Federalists did not want to ratify it without a declaration of rights.
3. The Anti-Federalists believed the new government consolidated the states because the supremacy clause in Article VI gave the federal government ultimate authority over the states.
4. The Anti-Federalists feared the new proposed government was an elected form of tyranny (they just won a war against a tyrant).
Students’ Instructions
As we read through Peter Prejudice: The New Breeches (April 15, 1788), think of how you will draw Peter Prejudice wearing his new breeches and how the characteristics of his breeches relate to the arguments of the Anti-Federalists against the proposed Constitution.
Assessment
Draw Peter Prejudice wearing his new breeches. Label at least 3 characteristics of his breeches and how these relate to the arguments of the Anti-Federalists against the proposed Constitution. | 
Mission Statement
Leadership
