Republicanism Annenberg Classroom

Leo Migdal

-Nov 24, 2025, 4:31 AM

Republicanism is a theory of government that emphasizes the participation of citizens for the common good of the community. The responsibilities and duties of citizens are paramount, and the exemplary citizen readily subordinates personal to public interests. In contrast to liberalism, which is concerned primarily with the personal and private rights of individuals, republicanism stresses the public rights and obligations of citizens to cooperate in support of theircommunity. Essential characteristics of republicanism are beliefs or assumptions about the relationships of individuals, the community, and government, including the following ideas: Republicanism is rooted in the political and civic ideas of classical antiquity, as they were expressed and practiced in the city-communities of Greece and in the Republic of Rome. These ideas were revived during the Renaissance era in western Europe, particularly in the city-based republics of northern Italy, such as Florence, Genoa, and Venice.

Leading French philosophers of the European Enlightenment, such as Montesquieu and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, also put forward republican political ideas. By contrast, the political philosophy of liberalism, based on the primacy of constitutionally guaranteed rights of individuals, is distinctly modern. Prominent among the formulators of liberal political ideas during and after the Enlightenment era were the English political philosophers John Locke and John Stuart Mill. The founders of the United States of America combined ideas of republicanism and liberalism in their establishment of a constitutional government designed to guarantee the inherent and inalienable rights of individuals. The founding era produced a hybrid theory of liberal republicanism that developed into the democratic republic of the United States of America and subsequently influenced the worldwide spread of representative and constitutional democracy. Annenberg Classroom’s short documentary “The First Amendment: New York Times v.

Sullivan” has won a Silver Award in the 4th Annual Anthem Awards. A new Annenberg Classroom film explores the history of constitutional protection against “cruel and unusual punishment” Annenberg Classroom has released a new educational film on the landmark First Amendment freedom of the press case New York Times v. Sullivan. Annenberg Classroom has released a new film exploring the history of Juneteenth and illustrating how and why freedom and citizenship were intertwined. In advance of Constitution Day, September 17, Annenberg Classroom has released a new film on the First Amendment's freedom of speech when it comes to students in schools.

The Founding Fathers of the United States of America may have declared independence from Britain in 1776, but the real work of putting together the new government got underway at the Constitutional Convention, which... After the deliberations ended and the delegates were leaving the hall, a member of the crowd that had gathered outside, Mrs. Elizabeth Powell, asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” Franklin responded, “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.” Today, citizens of the United States assume they have kept it, but what, exactly, does a republic, and the philosophy that defines it—republicanism—mean?

In general, republicanism refers to the ideology embraced by members of a republic, which is a form of representational government in which leaders are elected for a specific period by the preponderance of the... A new Annenberg Classroom film explores the Constitution's Commerce Clause and the balance of power between the states and the federal government. The National Constitution Center and the Center for Civic Education have been named recipients of the 2025 Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics Award. The film "The First Amendment: New York Times v. Sullivan," on the landmark 1964 Supreme Court case, has been named a finalist for an ABA Silver Gavel Award. LAIC has announced the winning educators in the call for lesson plan proposals for its short historical documentary about the Eighth Amendment.

Sponsored by the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics, the three-part ABA video series "Strengthening Democracy" informs military members about relevant legal topics. Free classroom resources for teaching the Constitution. Annenberg Classroom's free resources include over 65 videos on constitutional concepts and Supreme Court cases as well as games, lesson plans, timelines, downloadable books, a glossary, and a Constitution guide. For teachers, lesson plans on Supreme Court cases, constitutional concepts, and critical thinking skills; a guide that connects resources to the Constitution's articles and amendments; and recommendations for civics resources. For students, the Annenberg Constitution Guide: What It Says, What It Means; games; Constitution-related timelines; downloadable books; and a glossary of terms. What is the story of Juneteenth?

Why do we celebrate this newly designated federal holiday, and how is it connected to one of the most cherished American ideals: freedom? This film explores the history of Juneteenth and illustrates how and why freedom and citizenship were intertwined, as well as how the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution changed and expanded the... Article IV, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution states, “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of... This provision, known as the guarantee clause, is attributed to James Madison. It has not been widely interpreted, but scholars think it ensures that each state be run as a representative democracy, as opposed to a monarchy (run by a king or queen) or a dictatorship...

Courts however have been reluctant to specify what exactly a republican form of government means, leaving that decision exclusively to Congress. www.justicelearning.org, The United States Constitution, what it says, what it means, A Hip Pocket Guide (Oxford University Press) This interactive guide to the U.S. Constitution provides the original text and an explanation of the meaning of each article and amendment. The guide is an excellent research tool for students to use to gain a deeper understanding of one of our nation’s founding documents and the establishment of the federal government. These engaging documentaries on key cases decided by the U.S.

Supreme Court contain historical footage, expert commentary from Supreme Court justices, legal scholars, and plaintiffs and attorneys who were involved in the cases. Republicanism is a theory of government that emphasizes the participation of citizens for the common good of the community. The responsibilities and duties of citizens are paramount, and the exemplary citizen readily subordinates personal to public interests. In contrast to liberalism, which is concerned primarily with the personal and private rights of individuals, republicanism stresses the public rights and obligations of citizens to cooperate in support of their community. Essential characteristics of republicanism are beliefs or assumptions about the relationships of individuals, the community, and government, including the following ideas: Republicanism is rooted in the political and civic ideas of classical antiquity, as they were expressed and practiced in the city-communities of Greece and in the Republic of Rome.

These ideas were revived during the Renaissance era in western Europe, particularly in the city-based republics of northern Italy, such as Florence, Genoa, and Venice. Leading French philosophers of the European Enlightenment, such as Montesquieu and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, also put forward republican political ideas. By contrast, the political philosophy of liberalism, based on the primacy of constitutionally guaranteed rights of individuals, is distinctly modern. Prominent among the formulators of liberal political ideas during and after the Enlightenment era were the English political philosophers John Locke and John Stuart Mill. The founders of the United States of America combined ideas of republicanism and liberalism in their establishment of a constitutional government designed to guarantee the inherent and inalienable rights of individuals. The founding era produced a hybrid theory of liberal republicanism that developed into the democratic republic of the United States of America and subsequently influenced the worldwide spread of representative and constitutional democracy.

Republicanism Annenberg Classroom

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