A Declaration of independence and Constitution Class Made Easy

A short lesson plan to teach people about their rights, and about the Constitution.

A few months ago, I attended one of the several Constitution-based groups in my local area, and observed the leader there give an excellent session.  (Thanks to Bill M.!)  After having given a few sessions myself to friends and neighbors, they have gones well, so I'd like to share.  If you choose to lead your own session, the following is just a suggestion from yet another champion of the Constitution. The more historical knowledge you have the better, but I wouldn't view this as a requirement. If you live in Pennsylvania's fighting 15th district, feel free to ask me to help out, it would be my pleasure.

Start off by reading the Declaration of Independence to get an idea of why our founders committed themselves to violent revolution rather than to continue living under tyranny. Have each person in the group read a part of the document, and stop as desired to elaborate points or parallels to today's government, but do not go off on tangents. Points I suggest stressing are:

• While the colonies eventually united against the British, the founding fathers were a minority, by some realistic estimates only 3% of the population in 1776, although the ideas of independence was widespread, especially due to Thomas Paine's "Common Sense." (PDF here.) What made the difference was that they were a DETERMINED minority, as Sam Adams once said ""It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in the minds of men." While the Constitution of 1787 had quite a popular backing, this was primarily due to the public debate of the Federalist Papers (PDF here) where several leaders - James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay - wrote anonymous letters to the editor debating what the new government should be.

• The Declaration of Independence was the promise to setup a new government to protect individuals from tyranny following the revolt. The Constitution of the United States was the fulfillment of that promise, the creation of a supreme law that would bind the hands of government.

• I suggest highlighting the phrasing "life, liberty, and happiness." While this is a famous phrase, many of the writers would have preferred the Lockean phrase "life, liberty, and PROPERTY," but due to the sensitivities about slavery at the time, this was omitted. While I hold the opinion that slavery was in fact, NOT the only or primary cause of the Civil War, it is incontestable that it contributed to much of friction between the North and the South.

 

Next is the Constitution. Although this can be read as well, I suggest just focusing on the protection of our basic rights in the first session. Check out the handout above (PDF here).

• Most people will be familiar with the Ten Commandments from the Judeo-Christian heritage. Here I would  stress that while the first 4 are religious in context, the rest are the bare bones of a moral code.

• Next, review the Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments in 1791 to the Constitution of 1787. These outline details for the rule of law, and the concept of self-ownership. Highlight that these rights are NOT "granted" to the people by the government. The Constitution merely acts to forbid the infringement of the federal government upon these rights. The United States Constitution was written under the principle of "positive grant." This means the federal government is authorized to exercise only the powers which are specifically given to it by the Constitution, and nothing more.

• Next, review the last set of 10 statements, and ask if anyone can answer where these come from. (They are the infamous 10 Points from Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto of 1848. See page 21/44 here.)

• Then ask the group the last question, which of these codes are most similar to today's society? Answer how you wish, but be sure to point out that the income tax is Plank #2, the FED Plank #5, the corporate bailouts, lobbies, and legislation are #7. In my opinion, there is certainly quite a bit of disturbing similarities to the remaining planks.

• Be sure to somewhere highlight the difference between rights and privileges. An example is if I own a piece of land, I can let you walk across from Monday to Wednesday, but I can revoke your privilege to walk on it on Thursday if I wish. If you have a natural right to something – say freedom of speech or religion, then by definition this cannot involve forcing anyone else to provide anything to you. You have freedom of speech, but you cannot force others to listen to you. You have the freedom to worship how you wish, but you cannot force others to worship as you do. We do not have a right to health care. If we did, this means we could enslave, or force, doctors to provide this service to us, as socialized medicine in essence does by having the government act as an intermediary force.

That should take you out to one hour, so it will then be time for a snack, a BBQ, a drink, or just open discussion.

Other suggested supplementary course materials

• Michael Badnarik's, free 9-hour Constitution workshop.  Highly recommended.
• Free single paper copy of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution can be ordered from here.  A good site to purchase from in bulk is NCCS.net here.
• A great video on "The Philosophy of Liberty."
• "Rally to the Breach: A Note on the U.S. Constitution" by Jake Towne
• "The Law." (1848) by Frederic Bastiat.  It is so key to understand his concept of how the government "legally plunders." Bastiat describes why the force of the state used to rob or redistribute wealth from the populace is a major moral wrong. Bastiat wrote this in France as the socialists drove the country to ruin.

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Jake Towne is running for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania's 15th District in the 2010 election as a citizen unaffiliated with any political parties.  Jake also writes at www.LibertyMaven.com and www.CampaignForLiberty.com.  A master campaign presentation for internet viewing is available.  A novel campaign website built by Raging Debate, TowneForCongress.com has recently opened.  [Reach the Author Here!] 

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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

As always, unlike the NFL, the author grants full permission to allow any accounts of, rebroadcasts, retransmissions, repostings of this article to your blog or anywhere else in order to promote the Restoration of our Republic.

Veritas numquam perit. Veritas odit moras. Veritas vincit. Truth never perishes. Truth hates delay. Truth conquers.

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito. Do not give in to evil but proceed ever more boldly against it.

Summary of Articles and Bibliography for Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution (8/7/2009)

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