---
title: "SSUSH5: U.S. Constitutional Adoption (Georgia Social Studies standard)"
code: SSUSH5
cite_as: Georgia Standards of Excellence, Social Studies, SSUSH5
subject: social_studies
grades:
  - high-school
language: en
canonical_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SSUSH5
md_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SSUSH5.md
alternate_language_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/es/standards/code/SSUSH5.md
source_url: https://case.georgiastandards.org/ims/case/v1p1/CFDocuments/a446e74c-463e-11e7-94f5-b49cee8b2d8c
source_last_changed: 2025-02-04
data_built: 2026-09-18
publisher: Georgia Homeroom, a free public-interest project of Georgia Civic Data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Georgia Department of Education or any school district.
up: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/social_studies/high-school.md
index: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/index.md
---

# SSUSH5: U.S. Constitutional Adoption

Investigate specific events and key ideas that brought about the adoption and implementation of the United States Constitution.

- Subject: Social Studies
- Appears in: High School, https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/social_studies/high-school.md

## Expectations

- **SSUSH5.a**: Examine the strengths of the Articles of Confederation, including but not limited to the Land Ordinance of 1785, Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and their influence on westward migration, slavery, public education, and the addition of new states.
- **SSUSH5.b**: Evaluate how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and Daniel Shays' Rebellion led to a call for a stronger central government.
- **SSUSH5.c**: Explain the key features of the Constitution, including the Great Compromise, limited government, and the Three-Fifths Compromise.
- **SSUSH5.d**: Evaluate the major arguments of the Anti-Federalists and Federalists during the debate on ratification of the Constitution, The Federalist Papers, and the roles of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
- **SSUSH5.e**: Explain how objections to the ratification of the Constitution were addressed in the Bill of Rights.

## Georgia Milestones coverage

- US History (EOC). Colonization through the Constitution. Colonization through the Constitution (about 16% of the test; 7–8 points; shared with other standards, so count these points once and never add them up per standard)

Source: Georgia Standards of Excellence, published by the Georgia Department of Education at case.georgiastandards.org.