Civics for Ages 12 to 14 Course

What you will learn in 3 lessons

1. 1

   Roots of American Democracy

   Start here

   The learner traces the ideas behind American government, from Athenian democracy and the Roman republic, Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights to colonial self-government and the writings of Locke, Montesquieu and Paine, and explains how the Declaration of Independence states them.

   6 learning goals

   What you will learn

   1. 1.Trace democratic ideas back to the ancient world
   2. 2.Explain how England limited the power of its monarchs
   3. 3.Explain Enlightenment ideas about rights and power
   4. 4.Explain how colonists governed themselves and came to demand independence
   5. 5.Analyze the Declaration of Independence
   6. 6.Trace the founding ideals through American history
2. 2

   Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities

   The learner explains how people become US citizens by birth or naturalization, the difference between the obligations of citizens (obeying laws, paying taxes, jury duty, Selective Service registration) and their responsibilities (voting, staying informed, serving the community), and how citizens and residents take part in civic life.

   6 learning goals

   What you will learn

   1. 1.Explain what citizenship is and how it differs from other legal statuses
   2. 2.Explain how people become US citizens at birth
   3. 3.Describe how an adult becomes a citizen by naturalization
   4. 4.Compare the rights of everyone in the US with the rights reserved to citizens
   5. 5.Separate the obligations of citizens from their responsibilities
   6. 6.Take part in civic life as a citizen or resident
3. 3

   Principles of the Constitution

   The learner explains the Preamble, the seven articles and the principles of the Constitution (popular sovereignty, limited government, rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, republicanism), how it is amended, and the Federalist and Anti-Federalist arguments about a strong central government.

   6 learning goals

   What you will learn

   1. 1.Read the Constitution as a plan for government
   2. 2.Explain who holds power and what limits it
   3. 3.Explain how power is divided and shared among the three branches
   4. 4.Explain how power is shared between the nation and the states
   5. 5.Weigh the arguments over a strong central government
   6. 6.Explain how the Constitution changes