This short video examines changing attitudes towards the slave trade in the late 18th century. As early as 1763, there were strong voices in favor of the abolition of international slave trading. At the Constitutional Convention, states from the Deep South refused to support the Constitution without some protection for the slave trade. Professor John Kaminksi describes the convention’s decision to allow congressional action on slavery after 1808 as “the beginning of the end.”
Voices of History
Voices of History is a collection of eight Bill of Rights Institute curriculum resources including Being An American, Preserving the Bill of Rights, Founders and the Constitution, Supreme Court DBQs, Liberty and Security in Modern Times, Religious Liberty: An American Experiment, and Heroes and Villains. Teachers will have free access to each resources’ lessons plans and handouts.
The Constitution: That Delicate Balance
Constitutional issues come to life in this Emmy Award-winning series. Key political, legal, and media professionals engage in spontaneous and heated debates on controversial issues such as campaign spending, the right to die, school prayer, and immigration reform. This series will deepen understanding of the life and power of this enduring document and its impact on history and current affairs, while bringing biases and misconceptions to light.
What’s in a Constitutional Preamble?
Students will compare the preamble of the U.S. Constitution with the preambles from two state constitutions. They will extract common themes from the three, and note key differences. The preamble to the Constitution has not been changed since its drafting; the Constitution, however, has been amended. Students will reevaluate the ideals expressed in the Preamble and consider their relevance today. They are given the chance to rewrite the Preamble, share their rationale, and explain the values contained expressed inside.
#ConstitutionDay2015
Schools across the nation participated in the 2015 Preamble Challenge on Constitution Day. Students pledged to recite the Preamble to the US Constitution in creative ways. Here are some of our favorites. Read More ⟶
#ConstitutionDay2014
Nearly 900 schools across the nation participated in 2014’s Preamble Challenge on Constitution Day, led by the National Constitution Center. Students who participated in the Civics Renewal Network’s Constitution Day program in Washington, D.C., recited the Preamble at the U.S. Capitol. Read More ⟶
Stewarding America: Institutions and Civic Life
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences organized this discussion on the current state of American civic life as part of the Civics Renewal Network’s efforts to raise awareness of the importance of civics education on Constitution Day, September 17, 2014 Read More ⟶
Watch Our Founders Debate the Bill of Rights
Some of our nation’s founders — James Madison, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson — engage in a lively debate on the Bill of Rights. Historian and author Carol Berkin is the moderator of the discussion, which was part of the Civics Renewal Network’s Constitution Day 2014 program in Washington, D.C. Read More ⟶
2014 Student Projects
The Civics Renewal Network brought four dozen students from across the nation to Washington, D.C., for a Constitution Day program. These middle and high school students used their civic skills and knowledge to improve their school or community. Read More ⟶
2014 Naturalization Ceremonies
Nearly 30 naturalization ceremonies organized by the Federal Courts were conducted across the country as part of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Read More ⟶