The U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights vs. the Tennessee Constitution’s Declaration of Rights

The Tennessee Constitution’s Declaration of Rights has many similarities to the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights. In this lesson, students will explore these similarities and additional rights of Tennesseans utilizing the Tennessee Blue Book as a primary resource.

Weblink address (URL): 
The U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights vs. the Tennessee Constitution’s Declaration of Rights
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Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

In the course of the lesson, students will…

  • List rights in the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights.
  • Explain why Tennessee has a Declaration of Rights in its state constitution.
  • Describe why both documents are important and necessary.
  • Compare and contrast these two documents.
  • Explain how these documents make a difference in a citizen’s everyday life.
Essential and guiding questions: 
  • What does the Tennessee Constitution’s Declaration of Rights do that the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights does not?
  • What two basic principles are the cornerstone of the Tennessee Constitution and Declaration of Rights?
  • How are civil rights protected in both documents?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying
Extension suggestions: 
  • As a class, invite a local judge, district attorney or assistant district attorney, public defender, or local attorney to come to class and discuss the application of the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights and the Tennessee Constitution’s Declaration of Rights in today’s courtrooms.
  • Have students research recent court decisions on the national level or state level to discuss the practical application of these important documents.

Option for extension: Invite state legislators or local elected officials to come speak to the classroom about their role in government.

Helpful Hints

Materials Needed:

  • Copies of the graphic organizer for each student (attached): Teaching with Primary Sources – MTSU Worksheet: Analyzing Sources from Multiple Perspectives.
  • Tennessee Blue Book (PDFs provided)
    • pgs. 527 – 529, U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights
    • pgs. 688 – 691, Tennessee Constitution’s Declaration of Rights
  • Chart paper