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Current EventWASHINGTON—A dayslong standoff between Democrats and Republicans over another coronavirus-relief bill showed no signs of abating Wednesday, as negotiations threatened to stall until next month, when lawmakers must reach an agreement to keep the federal government funded.
Current EventPORTLAND, Ore — As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown announced a ban on indoor gatherings of more than 10 people in an effort to slow the spread. The new rule does not apply to businesses at this time, Brown said. Oregon will also expand face mask requirements outdoors. Starting Wednesday, July 15, face coverings will be required outside if people cannot keep a distance of more than 6 feet away from others...
Current EventA Confederate monument memorializing Zebulon Baird Vance towers 65 feet over Park Square in downtown Asheville. The Buncombe County native it honors was North Carolina's governor during the Civil War, a slave owner and a documented racist. For years, people have debated whether a tribute to him should hold such a prominent place in Asheville. Several ideas have been floated, ranging from providing historic contextualization at the monument to outright removal.
Current EventThe mandatory closing of small businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic took on political overtones locally this past week, with a brouhaha over the shutdown, then reopening, of a Melbourne business called The Funky Mermaid Market. The issue came to the public's attention with an April 17 Facebook post by Melbourne Vice Mayor and District 5 City Council Member Paul Alfrey.
Current EventRep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) slammed the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and "their corporate media partners" on Tuesday for not allowing her to participate in next week's debate that is slated to feature former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The pushback from Gabbard comes after the DNC announced new qualifying standards on Friday for the March 15 Arizona debate that will be broadcasted on CNN and Univision...
Current EventEarly Sunday morning, most people in America will spring forward and move their clocks one hour ahead to daylight-saving time. It is good news for those who enjoy more daylight in the evening. But experts say a growing body of evidence shows that the annual time shift is bad for our health, disrupting our circadian rhythms and sleep and leading to a higher immediate risk of heart attacks, strokes, atrial fibrillation and potentially car accidents...
Current EventFormer South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign called on former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to drop out of the Democratic presidential primary race in a memo released on Thursday, warning that Bloomberg's presence in the race would propel Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to the Democratic nomination. "If Bloomberg remains in the race despite showing he can not offer a viable alternative to Bernie Sanders, he will propel Sanders to a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead siphoning votes away from Pete, the current leader in delegates," Buttigieg's campaign wrote...
Current EventSusan Lontine, a Democratic state representative in Colorado, knows well how some use the term “illegal alien” to disparage migrants. Her district in Denver contains many immigrant communities, and she recoils when she hears President Trump use the term in speeches or catches conservative colleagues uttering it in Statehouse hallways. What Ms. Lontine did not know, however, was that for more than 13 years, the words have also resided in an arcane section of the Colorado state code about who can work on public projects. A friend recently came across the language while training for her job with the City of Denver.
Current EventWASHINGTON — When President Trump’s impeachment trial opened this week, the Democratic House managers prosecuting the case piled their table high with binders and notepads. Only a few rested on the defense table. The contrasting amount of material the two legal teams brought into the Senate chamber to support their initial arguments foreshadowed a broader difference in their approaches to the trial...
Current EventWASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi quietly laid the groundwork on Thursday to send impeachment articles against President Trump to the Senate, indicating that the House would “soon” end a weekslong impasse and vote to bring the charges to trial...
Current EventThe House Judiciary Committee opened debate Wednesday on two articles of impeachment against President Trump, starting a somber and deeply partisan confrontation over Democrats’ charges that the president abused his power and obstructed Congress. In a rare evening session that was only the third time in modern history the panel had met to consider removing a president, Democrats and Republicans clashed over the Constitution, the allegations against Mr. Trump and the political consequences of moving to oust him less than a year before the next election. The debate unfolded at the start of a two-day meeting that is expected to culminate on Thursday with a party-line vote to send the articles to the full House for final passage...
Current EventAfter Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) announced Tuesday she was ending her campaign for president, some supporters were shocked and some megadonors were frantic, trying to get their recently donated money back. But to many — including several other presidential candidates — the immediate reaction to her departure was what it meant for the Dec. 19 Democratic debate: Namely, that the event may now have an all-white stage...
Current EventCandidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination took to the debate stage for the fifth time Wednesday night. There weren't any groundbreaking or game-changing moments, but here are five things that stood out:
Current EventIt was one of the most memorable moments of Game 5 of the World Series, an eerily familiar chant that arose from the chorus of boos that erupted when President Trump was shown on a giant screen at Nationals Park. “Lock him up! Lock him up!”...
Current EventPORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Voters in Washington will have a chance to decide if they want affirmative action to contribute to college admissions, state employment and state contracting. Lawmakers in Olympia repealed the ban on Affirmative Action but then opponents collected enough signatures to put a referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot...
Current EventWESTERVILLE, Ohio — The CNN/New York Times debate on Tuesday night revealed new dynamics in the Democratic presidential race: Senator Elizabeth Warren took sustained fire from multiple rivals, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. struggled to make an impact and Mayor Pete Buttigieg and other candidates were newly aggressive in making their points...
Current EventThe U.S. Supreme Court on Friday added abortion rights to its docket for the new term, agreeing to hear a challenge to a Louisiana law requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals...
Current EventEnvironmental activist Greta Thunberg’s searing address at the United Nations earlier this week earned enthusiastic praise from climate researchers, with many saying that the 16-year-old has found ways to raise awareness of climate science, galvanize support and resonate with people in ways that they have struggled to for decades. “Speaking as a climate change scientist who has been working on this issue for 20 years and saying the same thing for 20 years, she is getting people to listen, which we have failed to do,” said Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change & Development in Bangladesh...
Current EventTikTok, the buzzy spiritual heir apparent to Vine, has a history of censoring political content in line with the Chinese government, internal documents viewed by The Guardian reveal. The documents, which provided guidelines for TikTok's moderators, broke infringing content into two categories: "violations" and "visible to self." Violations would result in the content being taken down, while videos marked "visible to self" would be viewable by the user who posted them but invisible to everyone else on the app...
Current EventThe ten leading Democratic candidates for president gathered at a town hall meeting in New York City Wednesday, broadcast on CNN. They answered questions about how they would address climate change. Here are six takeaways...
Current EventFor this project on how students learn about slavery in American schools, The Washington Post asked noted historians to write an essay on aspects of slavery that are misunderstood, poorly taught or not covered at all in the nation’s classrooms. From the cruel separation of families to the resistance by enslaved people and the widespread enslavement of Native Americans, these contributions address gaps in our common knowledge about what the practice of slavery has meant for America.
Current EventDemocratic lawmakers were left shaken and worried by Wednesday night’s bruising presidential debate, which left some fearing the fight will hurt the party and result in a damaged nominee...
Current EventRepublican Virginia lawmakers on Tuesday abruptly adjourned a special session aimed at gun control measures that was called following a mass shooting at a Virginia Beach municipal building early last month...
Current EventThe first Democratic presidential debate is finally here. The two-night event will take place from 9 to 11 pm Eastern on Wednesday and Thursday in Miami, and will air on NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo. We’ll also embed a live stream here once it’s available.This is the first time Democratic candidates will get to square off on the same stage. But they won’t all debate together: A different set of 10 candidates will be featured on each night...
E LessonOn April 11, the world observed Yom HaShoah, or Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and Heroism. Varian Fry, often called the “American Schindler,” was an American journalist who recognized early on the evils of the Nazi regime and did everything he could to save refugees from it. He wrote about the increasingly troubling events taking place at the beginning of the Third Reich and eventually went over to Europe to help refugees escape across the border and into countries like Spain, Portugal, and the United States. Through his bravery and commitment to finding solutions for a situation in which many felt helpless, he was able to get many desperate refugees out of the Third Reich and into Allied territory.
E LessonOn 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.
E LessonWhen the Pilgrims set off for North America, they understood that no European society existed there for them to join. They would be responsible for beginning a new community, one which they hoped could start fresh away from what they believed to be the corrupt Church of England.
E LessonAccess our Homework Help video on the Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case and use the following lesson to follow along! Overview: How did the odious doctrine of “separate but equal” become legally permissible in the United States? In 1892, Homer Plessy, a biracial man, purposefully rode in a “white-only” railroad car to challenge the constitutionality of Louisiana’s Separate Car law.
E LessonDuring every presidential election cycle, both the major and minor political parties hold what is called a national convention to select who will be on the party ticket for president. Some argue that these national conventions are just a place for the party to rally its base around a set agenda, and to have a celebration.
E LessonThe start of a new semester is an opportunity to create a new community and learning culture in the classroom. For many teachers this semester, this community building is taking place in new and challenging circumstances.
E LessonThe Electoral College is one of the more difficult institutions to understand in the U.S. Constitution, but it serves a vitally important role. The Electoral College, not a national popular vote, selects our executive. The College has served this function since the country’s founding.
E LessonMay 6, 2020, marked 138 years since the signing of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Passed by Congress and signed by President Chester A. Arthur, the act banned Chinese immigration into the United States for ten years. Many in the U.S. despised Chinese immigrants, a group they believed did not integrate well into American culture and took jobs from Americans.
E LessonApril 1, 2020 is Census day! This once in a decade event serves many important purposes beyond just determining how many people live in the United States. In this eLesson, students will analyze the important role the Census plays in our political system, assess the changes the Census system has undergone throughout our history, and explore how individuals are represented through the Census.
E LessonThis eLesson was written by Jotwan Daniels, a member of the BRI Teacher Council. Lesson Introduction: Following World War II, America experienced a dramatic economic boom - and a dramatic reorientation of American ideals at home.
E LessonIt has been a busy fall at the Bill of Rights Institute! Ranging in topics from the colonial era to present day current events, our eLessons have covered a lot of ground. Take a look below to explore all the ones we published this semester.
E LessonThis eLesson was written by Shannon Jones, a member of BRI's Teacher Council. Introduction: In the midst of the 1830s, Congress was not only stymied by the ongoing tariff debate and the sectional division created by this debate, but it also began to see a rise in anti-slavery petitions from abolitionists.
E LessonWe know you’ve been working hard all summer to prepare for the fall semester. Our team has been hard at work, too. To help you get started this fall, we’ve put together a collection of our latest resources to help you in your classroom. The 100th anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment will take place in August of 2020.
E LessonThe Founders understood that, in order to preserve their liberty and happiness, and that of future generations, the foundation of successful self-government was citizens who understood and applied certain virtues. They constructed the U.S. Constitution according to their study of the principles and virtues that were most necessary to sustain a free, prosperous, and orderly society.
E LessonToday, it can be easy to believe in the inevitability of the success of the invasion of Normandy and subsequent Allied liberation of Europe from Nazi control. However, the outcome of the D-Day invasion was anything but inevitable to the military planners and soldiers who waited anxiously in the grey twilight on the evening of June 5, 1944.
E LessonIn recent weeks, Alabama and Georgia have passed laws restricting abortions in their states. They join six other states that have increased restrictions on the practice so far in 2019.
E LessonOn May 8, 1945, German forces formally surrendered to Allied forces, and V-E Day (Victory in Europe) celebrations erupted in the U.S. and other Allied nations. While Japan would not surrender until almost four months later, the defeat of Nazi Germany signaled that the conflict was entering its final phase.
E LessonOn March 31, 2009, United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas spoke to the students, parents, teachers, and other educators who had gathered at the Bill of Rights Institute’s Being an American Essay Contest Awards Gala. Justice Thomas discussed the Bill of Rights, as well as the responsibilities of citizenship.
E LessonDown with Hamilton and Jackson? Why Our Currency May Be Changing Overview The faces on our $10 and $20 bills may soon change, but what and who have pushed these changes? In 2015, a group called Women on Twenties called on the U.S. Treasury to replace Andrew Jackson’s portrait on the $20 bill.
E LessonTaking a Stand: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; On January 18, the United States will pause to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the role he played in leading the Civil Rights Movement.
E LessonFleeing to Freedom: Refugees in American History Refugee resettlement is a major political issue in 2016, but new waves of refugees have sparked controversy as far back as the 1790s! In this eLesson, students will explore the sagas of two refugee groups in different centuries: the Irish and the Cubans. By analyzing primary source materials, students will learn more about what drove these groups to America and how they adjusted to their new lives.
E LessonRemembering Antonin Scalia Last Saturday, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away. Scalia was known for his incisive legal opinions, penetrating questions during hearings, and his embrace of originalism in interpreting the law. Originalism is a legal philosophy that holds judges should interpret the Constitution and Bill of Rights by determining what its language meant to the people who originally ratified it.
E LessonThe Man Who Saved a Billion Lives After World War II, many developing nations struggled to feed their people. In places like Mexico and India, crops often failed. Beginning in the 1950s, American scientist Norman Borlaug began to successfully innovate new, disease-resistant, high-yield crops using genetic modification.
E LessonIn 2016 alone, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or ISIL, has claimed responsibility for several attacks around the world. Acts of terror in Belgium, Germany, the United States, and many other countries perpetrated by individuals pledging loyalty to the organization and its mission of spreading the Islamic religion have claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people and wounded many more.
