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
Kids Edition: The Document That Changed Everything: Understanding the Declaration of Independence
This episode of Civics in a Year: Kids Edition answers first-grader Del's question about the Declaration of Independence, explaining its historical significance and enduring principles in child-friendly terms.
• Introduction to the new Kids Edition format designed for young learners, classrooms, and families
• Explanation of how King George III ruled American colonists without having a say in laws or taxes
• Description of Thomas Jefferson and other leaders creating the Declaration of Independence in 1776
• Breakdown of key concepts, including natural rights, government power coming from the people
• Discussion of why July 4th is celebrated as Independence Day
• Emphasis on the Declaration's promise that everyone deserves freedom and a voice in government
Keep asking great questions and join us next time on Civics in a Year Kids Edition!
Need lessons to go with this episode? Check this out!
Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum!
School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership
Welcome back to Civics in a Year. I'm Liz, and before we jump into today's episode, I wanted to share something exciting with you. Some of our episodes, like this one, are going to be made especially for our young learners, like curious kids, classrooms and families that are learning together. You'll know it's a Kids Edition episode because it'll be clearly labeled in the title. These episodes will keep things simple, fun and easy to understand, while teaching important ideas about how our country works and why civics matters. So, whether you're a student, a parent or a teacher, thanks for listening and learning with us. Now let's get started. Hi, my name is Del and I'm in first grade.
Speaker 1:What is the Declaration of Independence and why was it written? Thanks for that question, del. So we're going to go back all the way to the year 1776, a time before the United States was even a country. At that time, the 13 American colonies were ruled by Great Britain, which was led by King George III, but the colonists, the people that were living here, were really upset. Why? Because they didn't have a say in how the laws were being made. The king was making rules and taxes without their consent, which means without their permission. They believed it wasn't fair. After all, if you're a part of a country, shouldn't you have a voice? That's when a group of leaders came together, including Thomas Jefferson, to write the Declaration of Independence. This wasn't just a letter. It was a powerful message to the world. It said we believe that all people have certain rights just because they're human, like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are called natural rights and they come from nature and God, not a king. The Declaration also says something very bold Government get their power from the people. That means leaders are supposed to protect our rights and if they don't, the people have the right to change the government or even start a new one. So why was the Declaration written? To tell King George and everyone else that the colonies wanted to be free and independent states. They believed that the British government was breaking the rules by not protecting their rights and they were ready to stand up for themselves.
Speaker 1:On July 4th 1776, the colonies officially declared that they were no longer a part of Great Britain. That's why we celebrate Independence Day every year on July 4th. The Declaration is more than just a piece of paper. It's a promise, a promise that everyone deserves freedom, everyone has rights and everyone should have a say in how they are governed. Thanks for learning with us today. Now you know what the Declaration of Independence is and why it's such a big deal. Keep asking these great questions and we'll see you next time. On Civics in a Year Kids Edition.
