Struggle Balance

This passage explains how the delegates at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 debated creating a new government. The Articles of Confederation had failed, leaving the nation too weak. Leaders like James Madison wanted strong central power, while others feared leaders could act like kings. To solve this, they created three branches of government and the system of checks and balances. The passage ends by emphasizing that this system still protects fairness and democracy today.

Reading this type of passage builds vocabulary related to democracy and government. It improves comprehension as students follow debates and solutions from history. Critical thinking grows when they analyze different leaders’ points of view. The passage also helps students practice sequencing by showing how debates led to the Constitution. These skills strengthen nonfiction reading, vocabulary, and overall academic literacy.