In this article, the authors offer social studies educators a way to deepen students' understanding of civil disobedience as a democratic and nonviolent means of instigating social change. The authors explore the concept of civil disobedience from a historical perspective and examine the justifications and ramifications of each historical example.…

This master's thesis synthesizes literature on the teaching of the United States Constitution, analyzes the Supreme Court case of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens, 1990, and provides lesson plans for teaching the constitutional significance of this case. The thesis argues that because of the poor quality of textbooks and the inadequate…

Intended for use by high school U.S. history and government teachers and students, these scripted trials and related materials are designed to help students develop an understanding about important ideas in the U.S. Constitution. The document focuses on three fundamental issues of the Bill of Rights: search and seizure, freedom of expression, and…

No generation in U.S. history has matched that of the founding era for its array of talented and influential political thinkers and actors. These individuals (such as George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison) possessed traits of character and intellect that significantly shaped the…

This digest addresses teaching about the U.S. Congress. The digest addresses the constitutional foundations of the U.S. Congress, including the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, representation, bicameralism, and the balance of power between state and federal government and among the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the federal…

This digest highlights the Constitutional and statutory foundations of the United States Supreme Court, discusses the changing role of the Supreme Court, and recommends online resources helpful in teaching and learning about the United States Supreme Court. The digest addresses general concerns of delegates at the Constitutional Convention,…

This ERIC digest addresses (1) the constitutional foundations of the U.S. presidency, (2) how the role of chief executive has changed through the years, and (3) Internet resources for teaching about the U.S. presidency. The digest discusses the Philadelphia Convention (1787), dominant issues guiding the creation of the chief executive's role,…