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Lesson

American Civic Virtues

Guiding question

What civic virtues do Americans value?

Grade
8–12
Published
Apr 6, 2022
A photo of the Lincoln Memorial statue, which shows Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States during the Civil War, sitting below this quote: "In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever."
American history is filled with examples of the nation’s leaders and other citizens demonstrating civic virtues.

Guiding Questions:

  • What civic virtues do Americans value?
  • How does the practice of civic virtues promote a healthy civil society?

Objectives:

  • Students will understand the meaning of civic virtue.
  • Students will examine how the practice of civic virtues helps promote a healthy civil society where individuals and communities can thrive together.
  • Students will explore examples of individuals in history who demonstrated civic virtues.

Materials

Student Materials:

Teacher Resources:

 

Lesson Components

ActivityCivic Virtues Today
ActivityAmerican Portraits in Civic Virtue
ActivityAmerican Portraits in Civic Virtue Graphic Organizer
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Lesson plan

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More Information

Facilitation Notes: Students will consult Appendix A: Founding Principles and Civic Virtues Organizer and Appendix B: Being an American Unit Graphic Organizer from the first lesson in this curriculum.

Standards

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Related materials

A worksheet titled "Civic Virtues Today" with guiding questions and a table for examples related to civic virtues.
ActivityCivic Virtues Today
A lesson page on American civic virtues, featuring guiding questions and a quote about liberty and government.
ActivityAmerican Portraits in Civic Virtue
A document outlining civic virtues with examples, featuring a graphic organizer and guidance questions for students.
ActivityAmerican Portraits in Civic Virtue Graphic Organizer
A photo of the Lincoln Memorial statue, which shows Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States during the Civil War, sitting below this quote: "In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever."
Educator ResourceAnswer Key: American Civic Virtues
Historical documents including the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution on aged parchment paper.
Educator ResourcePrinciples and Virtues

How do We the People are better able to protect and advance freedom and opportunity for all?

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EssayEssay: The Virtues Required of Citizens In a Free Society

The Founders thought that preserving freedom through self-governing institutions required that citizens have certain virtues. However, they did not believe that government would be primarily responsible for inculcating those virtues. Government depends on these virtues.

Text promoting BRI's Constitutional Conversations featuring Madison and American virtues, overlaid on a patriotic background.
VideoMadison & the Essential American Virtues | Dr. David Bobb | BRI’s Constitutional Conversations

Dr. David Bobb, President of the Bill of Rights Institute, discusses James Madison and how he exemplifies the essential American virtues of prudence and courage.

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E LessonThe Virtues of Sandra Day O’Connor

On September 25, 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court after receiving a unanimous confirmation vote from the Senate. Justice O’Connor was nominated by President Ronald Regan and served 24 years on the Court before her retirement.