Faithfully Execute: The President as Enforcer of the Law

The curriculum, Presidents and the Constitution, was made possible by generous grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities through its We the People program, as well as from Dr. John Templeton.

Presidents and the Constitution

Each unit includes Scholarly essay

Primary source activity focusing on Article II

Lessons to show how three different presidents understood and exercised their constitutional powers

Volume II Units
War

Chief Enforcer
Impeachment Federal Power Transfer of Power

Back of the book resources

Answer Key Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence Appendix B: The Constitution Appendix C: The Bill of Rights Resources Special Thanks Image Credits National Standards

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies

8. Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including the application of constitutional principles and use of legal reasoning (e.g., in U.S. Supreme Court majority opinions and dissents) and the premises, purposes, and arguments in works of public advocacy (e.g., The Federalist, presidential addresses).

Little Rock Crisis

How did President Eisenhower explain his decision to use federal troops to prevent violence in Little Rock?
1. He was eager to demonstrate that a governor could not defy a federal court order. 2. He believed the public schools were the best place to begin desegregating American society. 3. He decided that his constitutional duty to enforce the law was inescapable. 4. He thought it was time for the federal government to take over the operation of the nations public schools.

5. Not sure

Eisenhower and the Little Rock Crisis

Critical Engagement Question (p. 86): Should President Eisenhower have used federal troops to enforce a federal courts order to integrate schools in Little Rock, Arkansas? Read the Overview, p. 86, and Handout A: Eisenhower and the Little Rock Crisis, and consider the Critical Thinking Questions.

Crisis at Central High School

What are people doing? What are people NOT doing? What kinds of expressions or attitudes do you see? Are there law enforcement officers present? If so, do they seem to be working to stop the violence? What do these images reveal about Little Rock at the time they were taken?

Crisis at Central High School

What are people doing? What are people NOT doing? What kinds of expressions or attitudes do you see? Are there law enforcement officers present? If so, do they seem to be working to stop the violence? What do these images reveal about Little Rock at the time they were taken?

Eisenhower and the Little Rock Crisis

Handout B: Document Based Question Key Question: Assess President Eisenhowers constitutional justification for his decision to send federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to enforce a federal courts order to integrate public schools.

Eisenhower and the Little Rock Crisis

Document AnalysisUse Handout C: Organizing Documents to map your analysis of documents with your group. Note scaffolding questions. Group 1: Documents A,B,C,D,E Group 2: Documents A,B,C,F,G Group 3: Documents A,B,C,H,I Volunteer?? Please read aloud Eisenhowers radio address, Document K.

Eisenhower and the Little Rock Crisis

How do the documents help us to answer the key question? Assess President Eisenhowers constitutional justification for his decision to send federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to enforce a federal courts order to integrate public schools.

Eisenhower and the Little Rock Crisis

Extensions A. Have students read Eisenhowers entire radio address and summarize its key points. The document can be found at www.ArticleII.org. B. Have students research the lives of the Little Rock Nine: Carlotta Walls Jefferson Thomas

Elizabeth Eckford
Thelma Mothershed Melba Pattillo

Terrance Roberts
Gloria Ray Minniejean Brown Ernest Green

Little Rock Crisis

How did President Eisenhower explain his decision to use federal troops to prevent violence in Little Rock?
1. He was eager to demonstrate that a governor could not defy a federal court order. 2. He believed the public schools were the best place to begin desegregating American society. 3. He decided that his constitutional duty to enforce the law was inescapable. 4. He thought it was time for the federal government to take over the operation of the nations public schools.

5. Not sure

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