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The Case:It is the last few days of the Constitutional Convention. Delegatesfrom each state are ready to ratify, or approve, the new United StatesConstitution. At the last minute, Gouverneur Morris, a delegate fromPennsylvania, decides that he wants to write an introductory paragraph to theConstitution.He did not discuss his idea with anyone. He wrote a short introductorysentence and placed it in a safe under his bed. He was afraid he would notremember the creative wording in the morning. He spent days perfecting thesentence.The next day, he wanted to share his preamble, or introduction, withthe other Founding Fathers. He was excited that his work might actually becomepart of a long-standing American document.There is only one hour until the last day of the ConstitutionalConvention in Philadelphia. Gouverneur Morris grabs the safe from under his bedand begins to enter the code. He enters the code but the safe will not open. Hemust be entering the wrong code. If he can not get his safe unlocked then he willnot be able to share his preamble. He foolishly did not write it down anywhereelse. Your job is to find the 4 digit code before it’s too late. Gouverneur Morrisbelieves the delegates will approve his preamble if they hear it.Mission: Visit each decoder and decipher interesting facts about the Preamble. It doesNOT matter which order you decode the puzzles. You may NOT turn in the 4 digit code unless all clues have been decoded ANDall questions have been answered. Think Tank 2020
Clue # 1Did you know?There are Latin words included in the Constitution. This is the only other1587. in the Constitution.language aside frominEnglishHow many sentences is the Preamble to the US Constitution?A. 1B. 3C. 5D. 7QuestionGouverneur Morris, a Founding Father, Think Tank 2020QuestionThe U.S. Constitution was written in the same Pennsylvania State House wherethe Declaration of Independence was signed. "Pensylvania“ is spelled wrong in the document.The Constitution was signed on September 17th, 1787. The Constitution is the supreme law ofthe United States of America.The Constitution has 4,400 words. It is the oldest and shortest writtenConstitution of any major government in the world.The Constitution is stored in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.All four pages are behind protective glass framed with titanium. The cases contain argon gasand are kept at 67 degrees to preserve the parchment's quality.“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union,establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote thegeneral welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordainand establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”The Preamble to the United States Constitution is a short, one-sentenceintroduction. It states the beliefs, principles and goals of the U.S. Constitution and theframework of the government. By beginning with ''We the People,'' the Founding Fathersshowed that the new country was united for the people. The Preamble was placed in theConstitution during the last days of the Constitutional Convention.
Clue # 2Did you know?The word "democracy" does not appear in the Constitution.What are framers of the Constitution also known as?A. FarmersB. FoundersC. Congressional CommitteesD. None of the aboveQuestionQuestionGOAL # 1: To Form a More Perfect UnionThis goal addresses the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.Before the Constitution was written the states viewed themselves as separate nations.The framers, or founders, wanted the individual states to work together as a unifiednation.To "Form a more perfect Union" meant the new government was supposed tobe better than the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation had severalflaws such as a weak central government. America’s first Constitution was actuallycalled the Articles of Confederation, which was passed in 1781. The biggest issue wasthat it did not give Congress the power to collect taxes. The Constitution addressed orfixed all of the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.GOAL # 2: Establish JusticeThis goal was created to establish rights and create laws that were fair forall citizens. "Establish justice" meant they would establish Rule of Law. Rule of Lawmeans that laws apply to everyone equally. It does not matter if a person is a politicalleader or wealthy, no one is above the law.The framers wanted to create a justice system, or court system, - ---. . - - .-. .-. . --. .- .-.-. . . .--. .- - . . Think Tank 2020
Clue # 3Did you know?Part of the Preamble’s purpose was to improve the lives of the people.GOAL # 3: Insure Domestic TranquilityThe framers wanted the national government to have the power to keeporder and maintain peace. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure peaceinside America. Today, domestic tranquility includes dealing with terrorism,keeping peace, providing for national security and providing for peaceful assemblies.This also means keeping American happy with their government, avoiding the kindsof social and political unrest that led the Founding Fathers to write the UnitedStates Constitution.QuestionQuestionGOAL # 4: Provide for the Common DefenseBefore American colonists gained their independence from GreatBritain, the people lived in fear of governmental armies. Today, the government hasthe power to raise an army and navy to protect and defend the nation from foreignenemies. The protection of the nation, its citizens and property, is the responsibilityof the federal government, not individual states. The national government cancreate an army, declare war, and make treaties.Today, domestic tranquility includes dealing with .A. TerrorismB. Providing for national securityC. Keeping peaceD. All of the aboveThe power to declare war can also be found in the U.S. Constitution Think Tank 2020
Clue # 4Hint:thenDid you know?It took over three months to actually "frame" the Constitution.GOAL # 5: Promote the General WelfareThe government will contribute to the well-being of all citizens. Theframers wanted the government to promote health and happiness for everyone. This goalallows the government to help those in need. The whole point of having tranquility,justice, and defense was to promote the general welfare. It means that every state andevery citizen of those states will benefit from what the government could provide.GOAL # 6: Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our PosterityPatriots once risked their lives for freedom so our Founding Fathers wantedto ensure that it would be here for years to come. Posterity means future generations ofpeople.What is welfare?A. HealthB. HappinessC. Well-beingD. All of the aboveQuestionQuestionDo Ordain and Establish this Constitution for the United States ofAmericaThis final clause restates the name of the document and the primary goal ofensuring that the people have control of their nation, and their government.143231 23243141532113315143331441423354 423454145242521415 145543 5543241154 Think Tank 2020
4 Digit CodeFirst number of code :The power to declare war can be found in which Articlenumber?Second number of code :The number of words in the Preamble MINUS 48.Third number of code :What number is represented by“ .”?Last number of code :What number is the letter “E” in clue #1?1.Which goal is to keep order andmaintain peace?Establish justiceInsure domestic tranquilityPromote the general welfareNone of the above4.A.B.C.D.Where is the Constitution stored?White HouseNatural History MuseumNational Archives BuildingNone of the aboveA.B.C.D.What month was the .C.D.The national government can .Create an armyDeclare warMake treatiesAll of the above3.A.B.C.D.What does posterity mean?Future jobsFuture wealthFuture successFuture generations6. Which goal established Rule ofLaw?A. Establish justiceB. Insure domestic tranquilityC. Promote the general welfareD. None of the aboveA.B.C.D.2. Think Tank 2020
the Declaration of Independence was signed. "Pensylvania“ is spelled wrong in the document. The Constitution was signed on September 17th, 1787. The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. The Constitution has 4,400 words. It is the oldest and shortest written Co
