In this activity, students will examine the original and final drafts of the Constitution and evaluate the significance of the wording differences in the Preamble. Find a teacher guide to complement this activity on the DocsTeach site of the National Archives Experience.

Compare George Washington’s copy of the draft of the U.S. Constitution with the final, ratified version of the Constitution. Identify differences in wording between the two drafts and consider why those differences might be significant.