Week 1
Lesson 1
Declaration of Independence
In this lesson, we'll explore the ideals and grievances that led to America's independence from Britain, analyzing its philosophical underpinnings and its influence on American identity.
Lesson 2
Articles of Confederation
We'll examine the first attempt at a national government, discussing its strengths and weaknesses, and its role in shaping the Constitution.
Lesson 3
United States Constitution - Article I
Our focus will be exploring the Constitution and its structure, principles, and the compromises made during its drafting, and its enduring impact on American governance.
 Week 2
Lesson 4
Federalist 51 - Checks and Balances
We'll analyze James Madison's argument for separation of powers and checks and balances, exploring its role in preventing tyranny in government.
Lesson 5
Federalist 70 - Executive Branch and Article II U.S. Constition
Delve into Alexander Hamilton's defense of a strong executive branch, examining its importance for effective governance.
Lesson 6
Federalist 78 - Judicial Branch and Artilce III U.S. Constitution
Center on Alexander Hamilton's explanation of the judiciary's role, discussing its independence and its significance in upholding the rule of law.
 Week 3
Lesson 7
Brutus 1 - Antifederalist Paper
Explore Anti-Federalist concerns about a strong central government, analyzing their arguments against ratifying the Constitution.
Lesson 8
Federalist 10 - Factions 
Examine James Madison's defense of the Constitution's ability to control factions, discussing its relevance in American politics.
Lesson 9
Letter from a Birmingam Jail
Study Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter advocating for civil rights, analyzing its arguments and its impact on the civil rights movement.
 Week 4
Lesson 10
Marbury v. Madison (1803) - Judicial Review
Explore the landmark case that established judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to interpret the Constitution and strike down laws deemed unconstitutional. This laid the foundation for the balance of power among the branches of government.
Lesson 11
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)  - Implied Powers 
This case, which affirmed federal supremacy over state laws. We'll discuss how it upheld the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States and expanded Congress's authority through implied powers, reshaping the relationship between federal and state governments.
Lesson 12
United States v. Lopez (1995) - Commerce Clause
This case, which limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause. We'll discuss its ruling that the Gun-Free School Zones Act exceeded federal authority, and its significance for states' rights.
 Week 5
Lesson 13
Schenck v. the United States (1919) - Free Speech
We'll examine how this case limited free speech during wartime. We'll analyze the precedent it set by ruling that speech creating a "clear and present danger" is not protected under the First Amendment, and discuss its implications for government restrictions on speech.
Lesson 14
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) - Free Speech
This case upheld students' First Amendment rights. We'll discuss how it protected students' freedom of expression and the limits schools have in censoring symbolic speech.
Lesson 15
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) - Free Speech
Our focus will be the expansion of free speech rights for corporations and unions. We'll discuss how it allowed unlimited spending on political campaigns, and its impact on political spending by these entities.
 Week 6
Lesson 16
Engel v. Vitale (1962) - Freedom of Religion, Establishment Clause 
We'll explore how this case addressed state-sponsored prayer in public schools. We'll discuss its ruling that such prayer violated the Establishment Clause, setting a precedent for the separation of church and state in public education.
Lesson 17
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) - Freedom of Religion, Free Exercise Clause
This case, which upheld Amish parents' rights to exempt their children from compulsory schooling laws. We'll discuss its implications for religious freedom and education policy.
Lesson 18
Baker v. Carr (1962) Shaw v. Reno (1993) - Fourteenth Amendment, Gerrymandering
This case established the principle of "one person, one vote" in legislative redistricting. We'll discuss its implications for fair representation in state legislatures and Congress.
 Week 7
Lesson 19
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) - Fourteenth Amendment
This pivotal case declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. We'll discuss its overturning of the "separate but equal" doctrine and its significance in the civil rights movement.
Lesson 20
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) - First Amendment, Free Press
We'll explore this case's significance in protecting freedom of the press. We'll discuss how it allowed newspapers to publish the Pentagon Papers, setting a high bar for government restrictions on publication.
Lesson 21
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) - Sixth Amendment, Right to Counsel
This case guaranteed the right to counsel in criminal trials. We'll discuss how it ensures fairer trials and greater access to justice for all defendants.
 Week 8
Lesson 22
McDonald v. Chicago (2010) - Second Amendment
We'll explore how this case extended Second Amendment rights to the states. We'll discuss its overturning of Chicago's handgun ban and its implications for gun rights outside federal enclaves.
Lesson 23
Review Session #1
In this session, we'll review all the content we've covered so far, reinforcing our understanding and addressing any lingering questions.
Lesson 24
Review Session #1
In this session, we'll review all the content we've covered so far, reinforcing our understanding and addressing any lingering questions.