National Civics Bee Study Guide | Primary Sources
57 items
Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle
Primary Source - 230 Words
Primary Source
230 Words
In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explorea the issue of politics and human interactions.
Politics, Aristotle
Primary Source - 454 Words
Primary Source
454 Words
Politics, written by Aristotle circa 350 BCE analyzes different forms of government and the purpose of government.
Democracy in America
Primary Source - 700 Words
Primary Source
700 Words
In 1831, the French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville began a nine month long tour of the United States. While his official mission was to study the American prison system in order to bring back suggestions for France to implement, de Tocqueville studied many aspects of American society, which he wrote about in his book Democracy in America.
The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved
Primary Source - 531 Words
Primary Source
531 Words
In this pamphlet, James Otis argues that taxation without representation was unjust and a violation of the rights of the colonists.
The Intolerable (Coercive) Acts, 1774
Primary Source - 828 Words
Primary Source
828 Words
In 1774, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts, which were known as the Intolerable Acts in the American colonies. The British government passed the four acts as punishment for the Boston Tea Party and growing colonial resistance to imperial rule.
Land Ordinance of 1785
Primary Source - 324 Words
Primary Source
324 Words
In 1785, the United States Congress of the Confederation passed the Land Ordinance of 1785. The law established a system for surveying and selling undeveloped lands in the west, which provided crucial revenue to the government under the Articles of Confederation.
Madison’s Notes at the Convention
Primary Source - 410 Words
Primary Source
410 Words
What were the discussions and proceedings of the Constitutional Convention?
Anti-Federalist 11
Primary Source - 369 Words
Primary Source
369 Words
Arguments on how the Constitution will take authority from the local and state judiciaries, the states will lose sovereignty, and lifetime appointments for judges will result in their lack of accountability.
Federalist Farmer 2
Primary Source - 534 Words
Primary Source
534 Words
Would a centralized and consolidated federal government remove power from the states? How would the size and scope of the judiciary and legislature and a lack of a bill of rights remove protections and personal connections necessary for individual freedoms?
Federalist 15
Primary Source - 1074 Words
Primary Source
1074 Words
How would the new Constitution create greater unity than the Articles of Confederation and how would it better uphold justice?
Federalist 23
Primary Source - 534 Words
Primary Source
534 Words
Why it is crucial that the federal government have the authority to quickly mobilize an army?
Federalist 40
Primary Source - 1021 Words
Primary Source
1021 Words
James Madison's argues that the delegates at the Constitutional Convention did not violate their instructions in creating a new Constitution.
Federalist 48
Primary Source - 916 Words
Primary Source
916 Words
What are the possible dangers when the proper balance of connection and blending between the branches of government are not followed?
Federalist 49
Primary Source - 413 Words
Primary Source
413 Words
Madison counters frequent conventions would undermine the stability of government and rely too heavily on passion over reason.
Federalist 52
Primary Source - 523 Words
Primary Source
523 Words
Alexander Hamilton orJames Madison as Publius defends the House of Representatives in detail. It addresses the requirements, term length, and direct election by the people as well as comparisons to state legislatures and historical examples of other legislative bodies.
Federalist 53
Primary Source - 792 Words
Primary Source
792 Words
Publius argues that a two-year term for those serving in the US House of Representatives is necessary for travel from and communication with home states and to learn the necessary information to make the best decisions possible while serving a state at the federal level.
Federalist 71
Primary Source - 563 Words
Primary Source
563 Words
Alexander Hamilton argues that to keep the chief executive effective, energetic, and above any temporary passions of the people a term length of four years allows for accountability and stability.
Federalist 72
Primary Source - 776 Words
Primary Source
776 Words
Why should a president be eligible for re-election?
Federalist 73
Primary Source - 503 Words
Primary Source
503 Words
What should the president’s salary and veto power be?
Federalist 74
Primary Source - 546 Words
Primary Source
546 Words
What role does the president hold as commander-in-chief, what power does he have to pardon, and how is held accountable to the people yet independent enough to act swiftly when required?
Young Men’s Lyceum Address
Primary Source - 572 Words
Primary Source
572 Words
In 1838, a young Abraham Lincoln gave an address titled “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions” on the topic of mob violence and the importance of virtue and respect for the law in order to uphold liberty and justice. It is a hallmark speech that outlines what is necessary for citizens to do in our constitutional republic.
Speech on Dred Scott Decision
Primary Source - 704 Words
Primary Source
704 Words
Abraham Lincoln's speech discussing his disappointment in the Dred Scott ruling. He remains hopeful that the ruling would not be the end of the discussion about slavery.
Speech at Peoria, Abraham Lincoln
Primary Source - 1207 Words
Primary Source
1207 Words
Abraham Lincoln, a senate hopeful, speaks about the dangers of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the immorality of slavery.
Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address
Primary Source - 855 Words
Primary Source
855 Words
Upon taking office, Lincoln attempted to alleviate concerns that he was going to act against any predetermined constitutional decisions on slavery.
The Gospel of Wealth
Primary Source - 618 Words
Primary Source
618 Words
Originally titled “Wealth,” Andrew Carnegie explains how excess wealth should be used to benefit society.
The Duties of Citizenship
Primary Source - 697 Words
Primary Source
697 Words
The night before the 1924 presidential election, President Coolidge gave this radio address. He encourages voters to use their educated and well-informed vote for themselves, others, and the nation.
The New Nationalism
Primary Source - 1347 Words
Primary Source
1347 Words
In Roosevelt’s speech at a park dedication, he calls attention to the changing nation and the need for every individual to be able to put forth their best. He explores the government's interest in the welfare of the many, not just the minority of wealthy.
Letter from Birmingham Jail
Primary Source - 2109 Words
Primary Source
2109 Words
Excerpts of Letter from Birmingham Jail
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 16, 1963
Alexis De Tocqueville’s Democracy in America | Primary Source Close Reads Explained
Video
Video
10 Min
What is “Civil Society?” In this episode of Primary Source Close Reads Explained, Kirk reads a chapter from Alexis De Tocqueville’s ‘Democracy in America’ to explore what this question meant to him. Written after his journey to America in the 1830s, De Tocqueville’s book is a reflection on American society and how its democratic system works. Why does civil society matter, according to De Tocqueville?
10 Min
George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)
Primary Source - 911 Words
Primary Source
911 Words
President George Washington’s Farewell Address was not delivered as a speech, but rather printed in newspapers. Washington wrote over a period of months beginning with notes James Madison had prepared at the end of his first term. He also sought the advice of John Jay and Alexander Hamilton in formulating his message.
Acts of Parliament
Lesson - 3 Activities
Lesson
3 Activities
85 Min
Use this lesson as the foundation for the Stamp Act Resistance Narrative, The Boston Massacre Narrative, and The Boston Tea Party Narrative.
85 Min
Excerpts from Acts of Parliament
Activity
Activity
Excepted text of seven acts of Parliament between the years of 1764-1774.
John Dickinson, Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, 1767–1768
Activity
Activity
40 Min
Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
The Path to Independence
Lesson - 9 Activities
Lesson
9 Activities
90 Min
Use this lesson after students have read the Stamp Act Resistance Narrative, The Boston Massacre Narrative, and The Boston Tea Party Narrative. This lesson should be followed by the Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence Narrative and the Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776 Primary Source analysis.
90 Min
The Declaration and Resolves, Explained! | The Road to The Revolutionary War
Video
Video
19 Min
What events caused rising tensions between the North American colonies and British Parliament before 1776? In this episode of BRI’s Primary Source Close Reads, Kirk examines the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress and the debate on how the colonists should confront the barrage of parliamentary acts placed upon them. What challenges had to be overcome in the confrontation of the British Parliament? What solutions came from this declaration and what results followed it?
19 Min
Common Sense
Primary Source - 13973 Words
Primary Source
13973 Words
Thomas Paine published Common Sense in January 1776 support of the Patriot cause. Using clear, plain language, Paine rallied the colonists to support the break from Britain.
Articles of Confederation (1781)
Primary Source - 3652 Words
Primary Source
3652 Words
This was the first governing document of the United States of America. It was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in November 1777 and ratified by the states in 1781.
Memorial and Remonstrance (1785)
Primary Source - 2921 Words
Primary Source
2921 Words
In 1784, Patrick Henry proposed a general tax called the Bill Establishing a Provision for Teachers [Ministers] of the Christian Religion. Similar to some New England state laws, citizens would choose which Christian church received their support, or the money could go to a general fund to be distributed by the state legislature.
Conscience is the Most Sacred Property: James Madison, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and Justice
Lesson - 1 Activities
Lesson
1 Activities
45 Min
In this lesson, students will learn about James Madison's fight to promote and advance religious freedom in the State of Virginia. They will explore how his actions conformed to the idea of justice and through his example, learn how they can pursue justice in their own lives.
45 Min
The Constitution
Primary Source - 8564 Words
Primary Source
8564 Words
The Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states, in order to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government. It created a federal system with a national government composed of 3 separated powers, and included both reserved and concurrent powers of states.
Bill of Rights: 10 Amendments
Primary Source - 821 Words
Primary Source
821 Words
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. James Madison wrote the amendments, which list specific prohibitions on governmental power, in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties.
The Federalist Papers (1787-1788)
Primary Source - 222 Words
Primary Source
222 Words
After the Constitution was completed during the summer of 1787, the work of ratifying it (or approving it) began. As the Constitution itself required, 3/4ths of the states would have to approve the new Constitution before it would go into effect for those ratifying states.
Federalist 39
Primary Source - 2722 Words
Primary Source
2722 Words
Federalist No. 39, written by James Madison, is an explanation the character of the new republican system of government created under the Constitution. Madison explains why the United States government is partly national in character (meaning a government over a consolidation of all the states and the whole of the American people) as well as partly federal (a government over several sovereign states.)
