Civic Virtue and Our Constitutional Republic
Lesson Components
Essay: Civic Virtue and Our Constitutional RepublicHandout A: Defining Civic VirtueHandout B: Clarifying Civic VirtueHandout C: Identifying and Defining Civic VirtuesHandout D: George Washington and the Temple of VirtueHandout E: Self-Governance and American Self-GovernmentHandout F: Making Our Republic WorkHandout G: Real-Life Portraits of Civic VirtueHandout H: Excerpts from Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)Guiding Questions
- What is a virtue?
- Why focus on virtues and not “values” or “character”?
- How does virtue impact the function of government?
Objectives
- Students will define civic virtue.
- Students will learn and define some of the specific civic virtues that the United States’ Founders believe were required of citizens in order for the Constitution to function.
Educator Resources
Student Handouts
- Civic Virtue and Our Constitutional Republic Essay
- Handout A: Defining Civic Virtue
- Handout B: Clarifying Civic Virtue
- Handout C: Identifying and Defining Civic Virtues
- Handout D: George Washington and the Temple of Virtue
- Handout E: Self-Governance and American Self-Government
- Handout F: Making Our Republic Work
- Handout G: Real Life Portraits of Civic Virtue
- Handout H: Excerpts from Washington’s Farewell
- Virtue
- Values
- Character
- Justice
- Self-Governance/Moderation
- Humility
- Responsibility/Prudence
- Perseverance
- Courage
- Respect
- Contribution
- Integrity
Students complete a pre-assessment of their understanding of civic virtue using Handout A.
Read and discuss the Civic Virtue and Our Constitutional Republic Essay.
Complete Handout B: Clarifying Civic Virtue.
Assign students to small groups and assign each group a few of the civic virtues defined on Handout C: Identifying and Defining Civic Virtues. Have students briefly discuss their assigned virtues to clarify the definitions. Then have each group complete the table to identify a person or character in history, literature, or current events who exemplified their assigned virtues. Include an explanation. Call on a few groups to share their results.
Assign Handout D: George Washington and the Temple of Virtue reading. In the next class, have students work in small groups to talk through the critical thinking questions. Use Handout E: Self-Governance and American Self-Government to reflect on the significance of civic virtue and to recognize the correspondence between virtue and specific constitutional principles. If desired, use Handout F: Making Our Republic Work to provide a writing prompt regarding self-governance.
- Use Handout G: Real Life Portraits of Civic Virtue to analyze a portrait of the Copley family and write a museum label for the portrait.
- Analyze George Washington’s Farewell Address using Handout H: Excerpts from Washington’s Farewell.
- Keep a journal with the definitions of the U.S. Founders’ civic virtues. As you complete each unit of study, reflect on how the virtues helped shape our constitutional republic.
- Continue to delve into the topic with Heroes and Villains lesson: George Washington and Self Governance.
Student Handouts
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