The Constitution and foundations of government
Description
Why do written documents figure so prominently in the early history of the United States? There are plenty of explanations, but they all boil down to the philosophical ideas that drove the American colonies to declare their independence - and a profound awareness that those ideas should be inseparable from the rule of law. This program explores the origins, outbreak, and outcome of the American Revolution, the major political texts which grew out of that struggle, and their ongoing significance today. Topics include the heavy British taxation that helped spark the Revolution; the spirit and structure of the Declaration of Independence; the short-lived Articles of Confederation; the drafting and ratification of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; and their implications for U.S. government as we know it today.
Runtime
26 min
Series
Subjects
- Constitutional law (89)
- Civil rights (308)
- Constitutional history (105)
- United States Constitution (38)
- Liberty (131)
Geography
Genre
Date of Publication
[2009], c2010
Database
Films on Demand
Direct Link
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