This activity is part of Module 15: Article V and the 27 Amendments from the Constitution 101 Curriculum.
With the Constitution, the Founding generation created the greatest charter of freedom in the history of the world.
However, the founders also left future generations a procedure for continuing to improve it—the Article V amendment process. Over time, the American people have used this amendment process to transform the Constitution by adding a Bill of Rights, abolishing slavery, promising freedom and equality, and extending the right to vote to women and African Americans.
All told, we have ratified 27 constitutional amendments across American history. We can divide these amendments into four different periods of constitutional reform:
The Founding era
1791 – 1804
Gave us our first 12 amendments, including the Bill of Rights.
The Reconstruction era
1865 – 1870
Gave us three transformational amendments that many scholars refer to as our nation’s “Second Founding.” These are the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
(Notice the 60-year gap between the 12th and 13th Amendments—a reminder that constitutional amendments often come in waves.)
The Progressive era
1913 – 1920
Gave us the 16th through the 19th Amendments.
(Again, notice the 40-plus-year gap between the 15th and 16th Amendments.)
The Modern era
1933 – 1992
Added the remaining eight amendments, little by little, between 1933 and 1992.
And now it’s been over three decades since our last constitutional amendment.
To further explore this topic, download the attached info brief!
