Section 4: Reflections
This final section asks you to reflect on your learning and synthesize your thinking. There are three quite different options here. One is a project, one an essay, and the third more of a "test" format that has various components and connects these ideas under the context of "The American Dream."
We hope you can do at least one of these but invite you to do more than one as they tap into different learning modalities and push your thinking in somewhat different directions. Thanks for your persistence to get to this final section!
But before you begin, test your knowledge with the United States Citizenship test that features 100 civics questions here! Hopeful American citizens are asked up to 10 of these during an interview and have to answer six correctly to pass. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services reports that as of March 2019, the overall national pass rate is 90%. Would you become a US citizen on the first try?
Reflection Exercise I: Project
Consider the questions below and respond to 3 of the Core questions with a paragraph Please choose at least 2 other questions for a total of at least 5.
For example,
What is the Rule of Law and what is the relationship between Laws and the US Constitution?
The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution define the guiding principles of our country based on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The concept of Rule of Law is integral to our liberty. The Constitution establishes the basis for the rule of law by creating a legislative branch to pass the laws, an executive branch to enforce the laws, and a judicial branch to interpret the laws, and especially their adherence to the Constitution. The founders established a form of government called a Republic in which, according to Wikipedia, “elected individuals represent the citizen body and exercise power according to the rule of law under a constitution, including separation of powers with an elected head of state.”
By definition, the Rule of Law means all persons and institutions are accountable to laws that are: publicly promoted and passed, equally enforced, and independently reviewed and interpreted by the judiciary. Every session of our local, state and federal legislative branches produces new laws to establish standards, maintain order, resolve disputes, and protect liberties and rights. These laws reflect the important issues of the time and make it possible for society to continually evolve while being centered by the foundations in our Constitution.
The following are questions to consider, however, the first five questions are core questions.
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How do our founding documents- the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution-seek to provide for individual freedom and opportunity while still protecting individual rights and safety?
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How does our Constitution establish a Constitutional Republic?
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What is the difference between a Democracy and a Constitutional Republic?
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How does our Constitution protect every individual’s liberty?
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Research the meaning of equality and equity. How are they different? Which one most closely reflects the intent of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?
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What is the role of a free and fair press in a Constitutional Republic, and what is the danger if the press becomes biased?
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The first amendment of our Constitution includes both freedom of Religious expression and freedom from being forced to participate in religion, financially or otherwise (establishment clause). How are these two different? Are they in conflict with each other?
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In a social contract, the people give up certain liberties in exchange for the protection of Government; are there liberties you are willing to give up in exchange for more government protection?
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Calvin Coolidge gave a speech on the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. What did he say about the importance of Faith to our Founders? Click here for his documented speech.
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Does our Constitution create a balance between individual liberty and the general welfare (see Preamble)? Should that balance change over time (consider health care for all, public school for all, housing for all)?
Reflection Exercise II: Essay
There are two essay options.
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Essay Option 1: The American Dream
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What is the American Dream and why is it important for you to understand? In a well written 5 paragraph (or more) essay, provide your definition of the American Dream and articulate how it impacts your understanding of American history and culture (and perhaps your own life).
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Essay Option 2: Constitution--Originalism or a Living Document?
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Our laws often seek to balance opposing goals such as: equality of opportunity versus equality of outcome, and the need to meet the general welfare versus the rights of the individual.
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In applying the Constitution, some people consider themselves "originalists." They believe the Constitution should be interpreted as it was written in 1787. It can be changed by amendment, and it is the laws of the land that change to meet new situations.
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Others consider themselves "Progressives." They believe some of the principles in the Constitution are no longer applicable and it should be modified to change with the times.
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Which are you and why?
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If you would like to review some debates between originalists and progressives you can find them in The Constitution Reader at Hillsdale College. Choose the following topics under American Founding: Human Nature, Natural Law, Equality, Natural Rights, and Limited Government. Under each topic, when you click on the final sentence, it takes you to a two column argument outlining the debate.
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Reflection Exercise III: Test and "The American Dream"
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Choose three from the list below, define each term, and explain how they were related in American history:
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Declaration of Independence + Civil Rights Movement
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Bill of Rights + Emancipation Proclamation
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The 4th Amendment + Homeland Security and fighting terrorism
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Federalism + Civil War
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Separation of Powers + Judicial Activism
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The 1st Amendment + The funding of American elections
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Choose the amendment or provision in the Constitution you think best supports your definition of The American Dearm and explain why you think this is so critical to the dream.
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In words, drawings, or some graphic design, express your definition of The American Dream, demonstrating some level of balance and complexity of thought.
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Give two examples of individuals or events in US history that reflect The American Dream fulfilled or give two examples of individuals or events in US history that reflect The American Dream unfulfilled.
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How do the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution impact our view of The American Dream?
References for Digging Deeper
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Watch The Social Contract
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The issue of Religious Freedom is one of the freedoms our Constitution protects. The following article uses the Federalist Papers to understand how the founders set up a government that would provide that protection. Read Religious Freedom.
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"The U.S. Constitution: A Reader is made up of original source documents that bear upon the founding of the American republic, the making of its Constitution, and the struggle to preserve that document and govern under it to the current day." This reader is available through the bookstore of Hillsdale College.
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Land of Hope: An invitation to the Great American Story is available as a book, student books along with workbooks and teachers guides, through the publisher by clicking here. The author also has a free online course through Hillsdale College.
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As you study words throughout the exercises given on this site, consider using Websters 1828 Dictionary.
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Interactive Constitution from the U.S. Constitution Center
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Ken Burns American Revolution television series available through many sites.
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Revolutionary America coming soon from Hillsdale College's free online courses, available to browse by clicking here.
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Read a brief summary of Shay's Rebellion here.