Lesson 11 - Who Attended the Philadelphia Convention? What Did They Agree to Do? Why Did the Framers Use the Virginia Plan to Create the Constitution?

SD Application

1. What was the foundation of the South Dakota Constitution?

2. Who were the key role players at the South Dakota Constitutional Convention in Sioux Falls in 1889?

3. What are any unique attributes to the South Dakota Constitution?  (also see Lesson 27)

4. What was the rationale of your community’s choice of government?

Activity

1. In pairs, students can focus on a key individual from the state convention or a key concept from the state constitution. The pair needs to prepare a one page report. Individuals to focus upon include: Alonzo Jay Edgerton, Oscar Sherman Gifford. Topics to focus upon include: initiative, referendum.

2. Students can research the history behind the referendum issue to remove the state food tax. Prior to November’s vote, the students can conduct a mini-debate on the pros and cons of having a state food tax. Students can write an index card essay predicting the outcome of the vote.