Civics In A Year
What do you really know about American government, the Constitution, and your rights as a citizen?
Civics in a Year is a fast-paced podcast series that delivers essential civic knowledge in just 10 minutes per episode. Over the course of a year, we’ll explore 250 key questions—from the founding documents and branches of government to civil liberties, elections, and public participation.
Rooted in the Civic Literacy Curriculum from the Center for American Civics at Arizona State University, this series is a collaborative project supported by the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. Each episode is designed to spark curiosity, strengthen constitutional understanding, and encourage active citizenship.
Whether you're a student, educator, or lifelong learner, Civics in a Year will guide you through the building blocks of American democracy—one question at a time.
Civics In A Year
Principles of the American Republic: Where Liberty Began
What does it truly mean when we say "all men are created equal"? Why do we celebrate with fireworks each July? And how has a document written in 1776 managed to inspire freedom movements around the world for nearly 250 years?
Welcome to the first installment of our journey through the foundations of American democracy. We're beginning where it all started - with the Declaration of Independence and the revolutionary principles that shaped our nation. This episode introduces the first section of our civic literacy curriculum: Principles of the American Republic.
The Declaration of Independence isn't merely a historical artifact or something Nicolas Cage tried to steal in a movie. It's a living document whose words echo through American history - from Abraham Lincoln's speeches to Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream, from courtroom arguments to protest signs. We explore why the American colonies sought separation from Great Britain, unpacking the philosophical foundations that influenced Jefferson's pen. You'll discover how concepts like natural rights, consent of the governed, and the pursuit of happiness transformed from radical ideas into the bedrock of a new nation.
As we approach America's 250th anniversary in 2026, understanding these foundational principles becomes even more crucial. This podcast series will examine how the Declaration's ideals have shaped our Constitution, influenced our economic system, established the rule of law, and continue to guide our national identity today. Whether you're a teacher, student, parent, or simply a curious citizen, join us as we rediscover why, as John Adams warned, "liberty once lost is lost forever."
Explore our free Civic Literacy Curriculum at civics.asu.edu for lesson plans, discussion guides, and primary sources that complement each episode of our podcast. Subscribe now to continue this essential journey through the ideas that built America and still define who we are as a people.
Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum!
School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership
Hello everyone, welcome back. I am really thrilled to get this started. This episode specifically is to introduce kind of our first section of podcasts. So our civic literacy curriculum is divided into sections, and section one of this is the principles of the American Republic, and since it is July, we thought it'd be appropriate to start with the Declaration of Independence. So really, we're just starting where it all began with the Declaration and the core ideas that shaped our nation. So, again, this first section is called Principles of the American Republic. It's about the beliefs that gave birth to American democracy, such as freedom, equality, natural rights, consent of the governed and the idea that government should serve the people, not the other way around. Now, these ideas were not invented overnight. They were shaped by centuries of political thought, fierce debates and real human experiences, and they still shape our lives today. So what are we going to answer in this first section of Civics?
Liz Evans:In a Year, we'll start by unpacking the Declaration of Independence what it actually is, why it was written, who wrote it and we'll explore why that authorship matters. Both then and now. You're going to learn why July 4th is more than just fireworks, parades and hot dogs, why the date itself marks a powerful turning point in history. We'll examine why American colonies sought to separate from Great Britain. What were they upset about? What kinds of things were King George and Parliament doing that pushed them over the edge? We'll also tackle some of the big ideas of the document itself. So what does it mean when it says all men are created equal? What are unalienable rights and which ones are named in the Declaration? What can people do if their government becomes abusive or unjust? And what does it mean for a government to exist only by the consent of the governed? We'll examine how Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke influenced revolutionary ideas in the Declaration and how those ideas contributed to shaping the Constitution and the US system of government that followed. But the Declaration's influence doesn't just stop there. You're going to hear how it inspired democratic movements around the world, how Americans have used it to advocate for civil rights and how it continues to resonate with questions of justice and identity today. We're also going to dig into two foundational concepts in American life the rule of law, why that matters and how it protects freedom. Also the economic system of the United States, including who shaped it and why it reflects certain founding ideals. So these are not just history questions. They're also civics questions. They help us understand who we are and who we want to be as a country.
Liz Evans:Now, james Madison is my favorite founding father, so I do have to quote him here. He said the advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty. Now, the Declaration of Independence isn't just a relic behind glass that Nicolas Cage tried to steal in a movie. It's a living document, a promise that America has been trying to fulfill ever since 1776. Its words echo in the speeches of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. They show up in courtrooms, classrooms, protest signs and pledges. They remind us of what this country was meant to stand for. We're also going to explore other countries and liberation movements that use the Declaration as a model. We'll look at the colonists and the British and how they had pretty different views of what the colonies were entitled to, and also, again, how the Declaration continues to shape American values and our sense of identity. We're going to ask big questions about liberty, equality, justice and opportunity and how they play out in real life. So another founding father here, john Adams, once says liberty once lost is lost forever. So really that's why we're here to understand it and to protect it. So on our next episode, we're going to dive deeper into the Declaration what it says, why it was written and how it lit the spark of revolution. We're going to examine the preamble, the list of grievances and that bold conclusion that changed the world.
Liz Evans:If you'd like to follow along or take your learning further, we've got something for you our Civic Literacy Curriculum. This is a free K-12 resource designed to help teachers, families, learners and really whoever build a strong civic foundation. Every section in the podcast is going to match a unit in the curriculum, so, whether you're listening on your own or teaching in class, you'll have the tools to go deeper. I will be introducing every section to kind of help guide you here. All of these podcasts will be classroom friendly, they're going to be family friendly, and we really hope that you take something from them. So our curriculum, though, does include lesson plans and discussion guides, primary sources and key documents, and all of the questions that we're going to cover.
Liz Evans:On a personal note, the civic literacy curriculum was made even better by a group of 28 teachers called our Civic Literacy Cohort, and if you listen to our podcast, the Arizona Civics Podcast, some of them are on it, and they are practicing educators who took the civic literacy curriculum, which is modeled after the United States citizenship test, and made it accessible for kids in elementary school all the way down to kindergarten. All the way up to high school, they created lessons for gifted students, for special ed students. It is such a labor of love and these teachers are so incredible and it makes us so proud to have this curriculum Again. It's flexible, it's accessible and it's totally free, because we believe that civic education should be available to everyone. You can download the curriculum or explore by topic, starting by going to civicsasuedu, and in all of our podcast episodes, anything that is mentioned will be in the show notes, any relevant links and honestly too, if you're interested in any of this stuff, the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University not only has bachelor's degrees, but they have a master's degree and they also have certificate programs.
Liz Evans:Or if you're just looking to take a class because you want to learn more, they have so many classes led by incredible faculty who are top-notch in their field. I am really proud to start this project with the Declaration, especially because we're kind of starting our year leading up to America's 250th anniversary. So the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which will be on July 4th, 2026. And we're really just excited because our democracy is worth understanding. So please subscribe, share, let us know the questions you'd like us to answer. We'll see you next time.
