The Constitution's Cover Letter


In 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention decided that it was time for a change. A new plan for government was outlined in the Constitution, and it was George Washington's job to present this document to Congress. As with any important document, the Constitution was delivered with a letter of introduction. Part background, part persuasion, Washington's cover letter provides a behind-the-scenes look at how a new government came to be designed. 


  • Describe the compromises highlighted in the process of creating the Constitution
  • Compare and contrast the persuasive elements used in the introduction to the Constitution
  • Use evidence from informational texts to support analysis and answer questions.
  • Identify the author's purpose in a text.