Civics Texts
Illinois Civics Hub
Link to Resource: Illinois Civics Hub
Summary: A great resource hub for civics material that is targeted for implementation of civics curriculum within the state of Illinois.
The United States Declaration of Independence
Link to Resource: The United States Declaration of Independence
Summary: Declaration of Independence, in U.S. history, document that was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and that announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain.
Common Sense
Link to Resource: Common Sense
Summary: A persuasive argument to leave England and their model of governance for a republic directly elected by the people.
The United States Constitution
Link to Resource: The United States Constitution
Summary: Fundamental law of the U.S. federal system of government and a landmark document of the Western world. It is the oldest written national constitution in operation, completed in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention of 55 delegates who met in Philadelphia, ostensibly to amend the Articles of Confederation.
The Federalist Papers
Link to Resource: The Federalist Papers
Summary: The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. In lobbying for adoption of the Constitution over the existing Articles of Confederation, the essays explain particular provisions of the Constitution in detail. For this reason, and because Hamilton and Madison were each members of the Constitutional Convention, the Federalist Papers are often used today to help interpret the intentions of those drafting the Constitution.
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Link to Resource: Dred Scott v. Sandford
Summary: Dred Scott v. Sandford,[a] 60 U.S. (19 How.) 393 (1857), was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court in which the Court held that the United States Constitution was not meant to include American citizenship for people of African descent, regardless of whether they were enslaved or free, and so the rights and privileges that the Constitution confers upon American citizens could not apply to them.
Indexed Anti-Federalist Papers
Link to Resource: Indexed Anti-Federalist Papers
Summary: Link to Anti-Federalist Papers is the collective name given to the works written by the Founding Fathers who were opposed to or concerned with the merits of the United States Constitution of 1787.
Ideology, Confrontation, and Political Self-Awareness
Link to Resource: Ideology, Confrontation, and Political Self-Awareness
Summary: Adrian Piper details three pervasive logical fallacies that she felt contributed to constructing one’s ideology: the False Identity Mechanism, Illusion of Perfectability, and One Way Communication Mechanism.
Leviathan
Link to Resource: Leviathan
Summary: Hobbes argues that the Leviathan, is necessary to defuse the potential of humans natural passions and keep instability and violence out of the Commonwealth.
Second Treatise on Government
Link to Resource: Second Treatise on Government
Summary: Composed by John Locke between 1681 and 1689, the treatises were not published until 1690. Locke’s purpose was twofold: in Part I to demolish the divine right of kings theory held by Sir Robert Filmer ; and in Part II to establish his own theory of government, resting on the consent of the governed and respect for natural rights.