An Adventure in Ideas with We the People: Back-to-School Basics, Part 1
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The history of the American people has been a great adventure in ideas and in trying to make these ideas a reality. Over the next few weeks, 60-Second Civics will explore the important philosophical ideas and historical events that influenced the writing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
An Adventure in Ideas with We the People: Back to School Basics, Part 1
Welcome to 60-Second Civics, the daily podcast of the Center for Civic Education. I'm Mark Gage.
The history of the American people has been a great adventure in ideas and in trying to make these ideas a reality.
These ideas include the concepts that all people are created equal and have certain unalienable rights, including the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The Founders, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, were heirs to the philosophical and historical traditions of Western civilization.
They were well read and were familiar with the history, philosophy, and literature of the ancient Greek and Roman world as well as the ideas of their own time, such as those of John Locke.
The Founders studied English history and law, which is the source of our constitutional traditions.
Religion was also an important part of the Founders’ education.
They knew the Bible and its teachings very well.
The Founders of our country were also revolutionaries.
Thomas Jefferson and a committee of four other Founders wrote the Declaration of Independence, which separated our nation from Great Britain on July 4, 1776.
In creating the new nation, they drew on their experiences under British colonial rule.
They used their knowledge and experience when they wrote the Constitution.
Over the next few weeks, 60-Second Civics will explore the important philosophical ideas and historical events that influenced the writing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
That’s all for today’s podcast.
60-Second Civics, where civic education only takes a minute.
