Times vary depending on audience participation.
HOUR 1 – WHO, WHEN, WHERE AND WHY –
THE PEOPLE WHO FORMED THE UNITED STATES, AND THE THINGS THAT MOTIVATED AND INFLUENCED THEM.
We look briefly at the first English migrants to the New World, and figure out why they left their homes to face the peril of the seas and the hostile, ominous wilderness of America.
As the colonies became settled, philosophies, wars and experiments with different forms of government gave birth to a new way of thinking about the relationship between the People and their governments.
Then our government, from its home across the Atlantic, acted to subdue our new way of choosing our own paths, and we resisted.
HOUR 2 – WHAT –
THE NATURE OF THE NEW NATION
FAILURE OF THE FIRST PLAN
The resistance became a separation, and was made final by war.
Becoming separate required a Declaration to the world, and necessitated an alliance among the rebelling colony-states.
A plan for partially joining the independent states was agreed upon and executed.
The plan proved inadequate.
THE NATURE OF THE NEW PLAN
A better plan was necessary, so a committee was assigned to fix the old one.
What was the legal and practical nature of the new plan, our Constitution?
What effect does this form have on us today?
HOUR 3 – THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION
THE POWERS AND ORIGINAL RESTRAINTS
Now we review, in depth, the parts of the Constitution that give it the life the Founders intended. What the government can and cannot do, how it is structured to accomplish its purpose – what parts of the government can do which functions – and how it is restrained.
The Big Question: Where does it say how we shall get Liberty?
RATIFICATION – BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF A PROMISE
The draft of the Constitution was brilliant – but it meant nothing until the People ratified it. How did this happen? And why is it critical to the powers of the People today?
(Meal break is typically between hours 2 & 3 or 3 & 4.)
HOUR 4 – THE BILL OF RIGHTS
The further restraints on the government – what they were, and why the Constitution would not exist without them.
What effect these restraints have, and why these restraints were chosen over other potential “Rights.”
HOUR 5 – THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS
Amendments 11 – 27. Why each was pushed through, what each was intended to do, and the actual effect it had.
THE AMAZING RESULTS
A sampling of Supreme Court decisions that actually changed the form of our government, and gave rise to the turmoil we see today.
THE CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE
What can we do about it? – What should we do?
That is up to you…
