Showcasing Student Work on the U.S. Constitution

NHD team receiving medal
Thu 11 2008

A team of five students from Woodbridge High School in California, took an in-depth look at the U.S. Constitution and created an award-winning website at the 2008 National History Day competition in June in College, Park, Maryland.

Christine Lin, Lisa Takenaka, Nathaniel Schuetz, Kellie Kamimoto, and Nathan Turner received second-place in the Senior Division in the newly created website category for From Conflicts to Compromise: A More Perfect Union. Ratifying the United States Constitution.

The team's well-documented, comprehensive, and balanced analysis of the process of ratification moved from explaining the views of Federalists and Anti-Federalists through conflicts over the role of the Legislative Branch and the inclusion of a Bill of Rights. It included explanations of subsequent compromises and an analysis of economic and social impacts. Primary source documents and images clarified the foundation and process of critical historical thinking behind this award-winning presentation.

About the Author

Lee Ann Ghajar is a digital history associate in Public Projects at CHNM and a PhD candidate in American history at George Mason University.