Read each state's mood, pick the right arguments, and arrange them into a ratifying speech.
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How to play
Travel state by state during a ratification convention. Each audience leans a certain way and responds to certain topics. Select up to four arguments from your hand, order them into a speech, and clear the state's persuasion threshold to ratify before moving on.
Check the audience's lean and the topics it favours
Pick up to four Federalist or Anti-Federalist arguments
Reorder your speech with the up and down controls, order matters
Deliver the speech; reach the persuasion threshold to ratify the state
Controls
Desktop: click arguments to add them, use the arrow buttons to reorder, click Deliver Speech
Phone & tablet: tap to select and reorder arguments, then tap Deliver
Tips & strategy
Lead with the topics the audience already favours to maximise persuasion
Match the state's lean, the same argument lands differently before different crowds
If a state rejects you, the recap shows the best possible speech from your hand to learn from
What you'll learn
Founding Clause is a persuasion and deck-ordering game set during the ratification debates, bringing the Constitution's making to life.
Skills: American history, ratifying the Constitution, persuasion, argument
Best for: roughly grades 8–12 (ages 13+)
For parents & teachers: the ratification debate as persuasion.
About Founding Clause
Founding Clause is an original persuasion and deck-ordering game set during the ratification debates. Play free in your browser with a daily convention, an endless practice run and multiple difficulties.
A free, original browser game on PlayPendium. No download, no install.
