9/11 and the Constitution

On American Identity, Diversity, and Common Ground

The anniversaries of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001,
and the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, provide us an opportunity to

reflect upon who we are as Americans,
examine our most fundamental values and principles and affirm our commitment
to them, and
evaluate progress toward the realization of American ideals and propose actions
that might narrow the gap between these ideals and reality.

The following lessons are designed to accomplish these goals.

These lessons are dedicated to those who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001, attacks and to their families and friends.

	Introduction for Teachers
	Introduction Historical background The Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
	Lesson 1 What is an American?
	Lesson 2 What fundamental ideas about government do Americans share?
	Lesson 3 How well is the American government fulfilling its purposes?
	Lesson 4 How can the American government better fulfill its purposes?

This website was developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, the content does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and does not imply endorsement by the federal government.