Students learn about the Constitution of 1845 and the three branches of government it defines: legislative, executive, and judicial. Then they explore some unusual additions to the constitution that are not included in today’s version, including the ban on banks and limits on public debt.
Students read background information about Texas’s annexation to the United States, the Convention of 1845, and Thomas Rusk’s role as president of the constitutional convention. They learn that delegates modeled the new constitution on the U.S., Republic of Texas, and Louisiana constitutions and that the resulting document was much longer than the Republic’s constitution. Students then respond to a wall prompt predicting what might have been included in the Constitution of 1845 to make it so long, using their prior knowledge of earlier constitutions.
Teacher MovesIntroduce the lesson overview and objective, highlighting that students will examine the Constitution of 1845 and the three branches of Texas government. Encourage all student responses to the prediction prompt, including imaginative ones, and lead a brief discussion that surfaces ideas such as term limits, multiple branches of government, and the shift from a president to a governor.
Students read an overview of the Constitution of 1845, focusing on popular sovereignty, individual rights, republican government, separation of powers, and the ways the constitution limited government power while still allowing slavery and restricting political rights for women and minorities. They then read Government (1845–1861 section) to gather more details about the Constitution of 1845 and record key points in a note-taking table.
Teacher MovesClarify major features of the Constitution of 1845, including limits on debt, treatment of public land and education, and the structure of the courts and jury trials. Review student notes from the table to check for understanding and address misconceptions about who held rights and how power was distributed in the new state government.
Students read an explanation of the three branches of Texas government under the Constitution of 1845, including the roles and terms of the governor, the bicameral legislature, and the judicial system. They read Constitution of 1845 for additional detail, then complete a graphic organizer with specific information about the composition and terms of the Senate and House of Representatives and the requirements and term for the governor. Next, they post a summary of the judiciary branch to a class wall and read a brief note about Article VII and its many limits on the legislature. Finally, they respond to another wall prompt explaining why the framers might have wanted to restrict the legislature’s power.
Teacher MovesGuide students through the description of the three branches, emphasizing how executive, legislative, and judicial powers were defined and balanced. Support students as they complete the graphic organizer, prompting them to use evidence from the reading. Review and discuss student summaries of the judiciary, highlighting key structural features and the role of juries. Share strong or thought-provoking responses about limiting the legislature to spark a class discussion on why the framers prioritized constraints on legislative power.
Students read about distinctive features of the Constitution of 1845, including the ban on state banks, limits on public debt, and the prohibition on dueling participants holding state office. They then create a political cartoon that comments on the constitution’s stance on either banks or duels, drawing directly in the digital canvas or uploading a photo of a hand-drawn cartoon.
Teacher MovesReinforce why many Texans distrusted banks and favored strict debt limits, and explain the historical context of dueling. Invite volunteers to present and explain their political cartoons, using their work to deepen discussion about public attitudes toward banks, debt, and personal honor in mid-19th-century Texas.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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