Additional Resources: Continuing the Dialogue
American Identities and Constitutional Values
This topic will explore what it means to be an American. How do
we understand ourselves, and how does the law define us as Americans?
One commentator has described American law as "a common bond among
all the various subcultures, a common forum in which to raise
and possibly resolve not only legal disputes, but also disputes
of a moral and political kind." In a country whose citizens represent
a vast array of ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs, cultural
identifications, and political perspectives, how are our heritage
and our ethical and moral views reflected in our Constitution
and our system of law? The United States shares a heritage of
liberty and freedom with many other countries. How does the U.
S. Constitution both represent those shared values and define
our identity as Americans?
How to Use Starters
Starter 1: Excerpt from Tocqueville's Democracy in America and What is an American? by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
Starter 2: Original/current text of Pledge of Allegiance
Starter 3: Text of Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America
Starter 4: Excerpt from Legally Speaking: Contemporary American Culture and the Law by Helle Porsdam
Suggested readings for this topic
Individual Freedoms, Democratic Participation, and Other Cultures
As Americans, we view our individual liberties of free speech,
freedom of religion, due process of law, and equal protection
of the laws as essential to our roles as engaged citizens. What
do freedom of speech and freedom of religion mean? What do due
process and equal protection mean? What other specific rights
are essential to our freedom? What rights and responsibilities
do we have when exercising these freedoms? How do they shape our
identities, both personally and as citizens? Are these freedoms
reflected in other cultures around the world? Are these principles
of individual liberty compatible with other cultures?
How to Use Starters
Starter 1. "Ten years ago the Nazis burned these books . . . but free Americans can still read them," poster distributed by the Division of Public Inquiries, Office of War Information (1943)
Starter 2. Excerpt from New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's Address to the United Nations General Assembly on Combatting Terrorism, Monday, October 1, 2001
Starter 3. Excerpt from Community Cohesion: A Report of the Independent Review Team Chaired by Ted Cantle, December 11, 2001 (government report commission by British Home Secretary David Blunkett in the wake of race riots in Northern England in summer 2001)
Suggested readings for this topic
American Civic Values in a Global Age
For more than two hundred years, the United States has been engaged in a unique experiment in federal constitutional democracy. For more than one hundred years, we have been a major power on the world stage. Today we exercise significant international responsibility, yet we must recognize that this is an increasingly interdependent global age. Throughout our history, people from around the world have come to the United States, and have joined in our American democracy. What do you think are our fundamental American civic values? What has been their role in drawing immigrants to our nation? How do we project American values around the world? How do you think others around the world perceive Americans and our values?
How to Use Starters
Starter 1: President Franklin D. Roosevelt in "Four Freedoms" speech, delivered to Congress on January 6, 1941
Starter 2: Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World
Starter 3: Excerpt from Community Cohesion: A Report of the Independent Review Team Chaired by Ted Cantle, December 11, 2001 (government report commission by British Home Secretary David Blunkett in the wake of race riots in Northern England in summer 2001)
Suggested readings for this topic
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Note: The views expressed here have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association, and accordingly, should not be construed as representing the policy of the American Bar Association.
