Foundations of Democracy Teacher Resources

Popular sovereignty means that authority flows from the people to the state, not the other way around. This concept is one of the foundations of the democracy of the United States to limit the power of the government. [56 secs.]

Students learn about the rule of law and how it protects individual rights and freedoms. By performing short, scripted skits that illustrate what life might be like without the rule of law, students identify six factors that make up the...

Government officials serve the people, not the other way around - George Mason thought this important enough to commit to the Virginia Declaration of Rights. [59 secs.]

There are benefits to living under the effective rule of law, but governments can still legitimately restrict individuals in a variety of ways.

Podcast discusses how the United States achieves unity despite diversity.

An article by the CATO institute about James Madison's vision for his writing and contribution for the U.S. Constitutional Convention. Includes information on his views of a limited government for citizens' rights.

Overview of the history and foundation of the Declaration of Independence. Website is designed for elementary students and includes activities, worksheets and quizzes for teachers.

This video lesson from Khan Academy discusses The Preamble to the Constitution. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government course.

This video lesson from Khan Academy provides the text of the Declaration of Independence. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government course.

This video lesson from Khan Academy discusses the semocratic ideals in the Preamble to the US Constitution. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP...

This video lesson from Khan Academy discusses the Federalist Papers, and specifically, Peter . This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government...

This resource from Khan Academy provides practice questions over The Articles of Confederation. These questions are intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP...

This study resource from Khan Academy provides the full text of The Articles of Confederation. These questions are intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP...

This resource from Khan Academy provides a study resource about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, Shay's Rebellion, and the needed call for a new Constitution. These questions are intended for students taking high school...

This video lesson from Khan Academy features John Dickerson, co-host of CBS This Morning. Dickerson discusses the history and the significance of the Articles of Confederation. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or...

This video lesson from Khan Academy provides an introduction to the Articles of Confederation and its weaknesses. Shays' Rebellion was one of the catalysts for the Constitutional Convention of 1787. This lesson is intended for students...

This resource from Khan Academy provides the full text of Brutus I. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government course.

This video lesson from Khan Academy interprets an excerpt of Brutus No. 1, the most well-known of what will be eventually called the "Anti-Federalist Papers," which argued against the ratification of the Constitution of 1787. This lesson...

This resource from Khan Academy provides a lesson about the Electoral College. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government course.

This video lesson from Khan Academy discusses the Electoral Collection, a compromise agreed upon at the Constitutional Convention. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics...

This video lesson from Khan Academy discusses the Three-Fifths Compromise, a compromise that was agreed upon at the Constitutional Convention. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government...

This video lesson from Khan Academy discusses Article V of the Constitution. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government course.

This resource from Khan Academy provides a lesson about the Constitution of the United States. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government...

This video lesson from Khan Academy discusses the impact of constitutional compromises on us today. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP...