About the Podcast: 60-Second Civics is a daily podcast that provides a quick and convenient way for listeners to learn about our nation’s government, the Constitution, and our history. The podcast explores themes related to civics and government, the constitutional issues behind the headlines, and the people and ideas that formed our nation’s history and government.
Get Involved: Join the conversation about each episode on Twitter. Or you can contact the show by emailing Mark Gage. Let me know what you think!
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Music: The theme music for 60-Second Civics is provided by Cheryl B. Engelhardt. You can find her online at cbemusic.com. The song featured on the podcast is Cheryl B. Engelhardt's "Complacent," which you purchase on iTunes, along with all of Cheryl's music.
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60-Second Civics: Episode 1286, The history of rights, Part 2: Limitations on rights Even speech can be reasonably limited in a democracy. We give some examples on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1285, The history of rights, Part 1: When should rights be limited? Should your rights ever be limited? Explore the issue on today's 60-Second Civics.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1284, Legal protections of your rights, Part 11: How can I participate in civic life? How can Americans participate in civic life? Learn the answer to this question on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1283, Legal protections of your rights, Part 10: Civic participation Do Americans take their rights more seriously than their responsibilities? We discuss the issue on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1282, Legal protections of your rights, Part 9: Protection against tyranny James Madison thought that in a democracy, the greatest threat came from those in the majority who sought to oppress minorities.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1281, Legal protections of your rights, Part 8: Limiting government The Founders thought that although government is necessary, it is the greatest threat to individual rights.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1279, Legal protections of your rights, Part 6: Congress and civil rights What has Congress done to secure civil rights for Americans? A lot, actually.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1277, Legal protections of your rights, Part 4: State bills of rights What can you do if a state of local government violates your rights? Find out on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1276, Legal protections of your rights, Part 3: What the government must and must not do The Bill of Rights contains both prohibitions against government actions and positive mandates.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1275, Legal protections of your rights, Part 2: How your rights are protected In the United States, there are various ways that the rights of individuals are protected.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1274, Legal protections of your rights, Part 1: How your rights are protected How are your rights protected? The Constitution and Bill of Rights are just the start.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1273, Introduction to the Bill of Rights, Part 2: The Bill of Rights protects basic rights The Bill of Rights lists rights government is prohibited from violating, but this didn't always apply equally to everyone.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1272, Introduction to the Bill of Rights, Part 1: What is the Bill of Rights? Today 60-Second Civics launches a new series on the Bill of Rights in honor of Bill of Rights Day, December 15.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1271, The elements of democracy, Part 126: Markets, property, and political freedom Market economies and private property are necessary for political freedom, but they aren't all that is required for democracy
60-Second Civics: Episode 1270, The elements of democracy, Part 125: Private property and political freedom Private property is necessary for true political freedom. Find out why on today's 60-Second Civics.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1269, The elements of democracy, Part 124: Decentralization of economic power helps preserve liberty Today we examine how the decentralization of economic power helps to preserve liberty.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1268, The elements of democracy, Part 123: Markets and democracy On today's podcast, we learn how market economies disperse power among many different people.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1267, The elements of democracy, Part 122: Economic and political freedom Today we discuss why economic freedom is required for political freedom.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1266, The elements of democracy, Part 121: Authoritarianism and the control of civil society Authoritarian regimes often try to control civil society. Learn more on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1265, The elements of democracy, Part 120: Markets and democracy Markets offer benefits for democracies, but they are also no stranger to controversy.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1264, The elements of democracy, Part 119: Civil society organizations benefit individuals Civil society organizations benefit individuals and can help develop a stronger democracy.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1263, The elements of democracy, Part 118: Civil society organizations benefit the people Today on the podcast we learn how civil society organizations benefit their members and the people they serve.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1262, The elements of democracy, Part 117: Benefits of civil society How can control of economic resources limit the power of government? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1260, The elements of democracy, Part 115: Thriving democracies, conclusion Today we discuss social trust and cooperative social action.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1259, The elements of democracy, Part 115: More features of thriving democracies In order for a democracy to thrive, citizens must participate, show moderation, toleration, and civility. And that's not all.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1258, The elements of democracy, Part 114: Features of thriving democracies What do thriving democracies have in common? Find out on today's 60-Second Civics.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1257, The elements of democracy, Part 113: Alexis de Tocqueville and civil society Alexis de Tocqueville noticed something very unusual about Americans. Learn more on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1256, The elements of democracy, Part 112: The American Founders and political culture What did America's Founders think about the concept of civic virtue? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1255, The elements of democracy, Part 111: Ancient Rome and political culture From the Roman Repubic emerged the idea that people ought to be concerned with the public good rather than pursuing their own personal pleasures.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1254, The elements of democracy, Part 110: Aristotle and political culture On today's podcast, we learn about Aristotle's important contribution to the modern conception of democracy.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1252, The elements of democracy, Part 108: Democracy and political culture On today's episode, we define political culture and civic culture.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1251, The elements of democracy, Part 107: Religious law and international law On today's podcast, we explore two types of law that extend beyond national borders.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1250, The elements of democracy, Part 105: Common law and administrative law Today we learn the definitions of common law and administrative law.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1248, The elements of democracy, Part 103: Law can change society Law can be used to change society. Find out how on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1247, The elements of democracy, Part 102: The functions of law in a democracy Law has many functions in society. Learn what they are on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1246, The elements of democracy, Part 101: Rules in legal systems Today on the podcast we talk about laws that identify valid rules, change rules, and interpret rules.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1245, The elements of democracy, Part 100: Rules governing conduct On today's podcast, we discuss various types of laws, including laws that are rules governing conduct.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1244, The elements of democracy, Part 99: Freedom under law All democracies today are representative, but they often contain elements of direct democracy.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1243, The elements of democracy, Part 98: The basis of law From where does law derive its authority? We learn the answer on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1242, The elements of democracy, Part 97: The rule of law as essential to a free society There are benefits to living under the effective rule of law, but governments can still legitimately restrict individuals in a variety of ways.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1241, The elements of democracy, Part 96: Juries, the press, and public trials Juries are vital to democracy. Learn why on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1240, The elements of democracy, Part 95: Judicial independence Courts must be free from political manipulation and control in order that laws be applied equally to everyone.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1239, The elements of democracy, Part 94: Rule of law vs. rule of laws The rule of law means more than the use of laws for governing.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1238, The elements of democracy, Part 93: The law applies to everyone The law applies to everyone: this is the essence of the concept of the "rule of law."
60-Second Civics: Episode 1237, The elements of democracy, Part 92: Introduction to the rule of law Today we resume our series on the basic elements of democracy with a look at the rule of law.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1236, Elections and voting, Part 13: What happens in an Electoral College tie? What happens if there is a tie vote in the Electoral College? We'll find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1235, Elections and voting, Part 12: How the Electoral College works It takes 270 electoral votes to win a presidential election outright. Learn more on today's Election Day podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1234, Elections and voting, Part 11: The Electoral College Does the popular vote determine who wins the presidency? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1233, Elections and voting, Part 10: Electing a president In 1787, only two states supported direct election of the president. Learn why on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1232, Elections and voting, Part 9: The birth of the Electoral College Today we learn about the birth of the Electoral College.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1231, Elections and voting, Part 8: Increasing voter turnout Today we look at how the United States can increase voter turnout.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1230, Elections and voting, Part 7: Elections in the United States Americans have the authority and the responsibility to choose their elected leaders.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1229, Elections and voting, Part 6: Every vote counts Government is not the possession of the ruling party: it belongs to the people.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1228, Elections and voting, Part 5: Fair, honest, and private voting On today's podcast, we learn what makes an election fair and honest.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1227, Elections and voting, Part 4: Regular and frequent elections Why do we have elections in the first place? Learn all about it on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1223, The elements of democracy, Part 91: Democracy versus constitutionalism Democracy means governance in accordance with the will of the people, but constitutionalism limits the power of the government. Is this a contradiction?
60-Second Civics: Episode 1222, The elements of democracy, Part 90: Dividing power Powers are normally divided in democratic systems, but different countries handle this in different ways.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1221, The elements of democracy, Part 89: Separation of powers How do you prevent government from abusing its power? Learn the answer on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1219, The elements of democracy, Part 87: How constitutionalism works How does constitutionalism work? We'll find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1218, The elements of democracy, Part 86: Features of constitutionalism Today we learn some of the key features of constitutionalism.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1217, The elements of democracy, Part 85: Constitutionalism Government must have sufficient powers, but not so much that it abuses its power.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1216, The elements of democracy, Part 84: Written and unwritten constitutions Not all countries have written constitutions. Find out more on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1215, The elements of democracy, Part 83: Constitutional government isn't necessarily democratic government Legitimate government can come only from the consent of the governed, not from a dictatorship of a majority.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1214, The elements of democracy, Part 82: Constitutions as higher laws. A constitution is a higher law that can be changed by the sovereign people.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1213, The elements of democracy, Part 81: Introduction to constitutionalism To suceed, governments have to be adequately empowered, but they should not have too much power. Find out how this is done on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1212, The elements of democracy, Part 80: Constitutions Privacy in the modern era is constantly under threat. Learn more on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1211, The elements of democracy, Part 79: Modern challenges to privacy Privacy in the modern era is constantly under threat. Learn more on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1210, The elements of democracy, Part 78: Privacy in totalitarian societies On today's podcast, we learn how totalitarian societies attempt to control the people by stripping them of their privacy.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1209, The elements of democracy, Part 77: Limits to privacy Governments do sometimes intrude on individual privacy, but are such actions constitutional in the United States?
60-Second Civics: Episode 1208, The elements of democracy, Part 76: The costs and benefits of privacy Privacy is a good thing for democracy, but too much privacy is not so good.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1207, The elements of democracy, Part 75: Privacy and democracy For choice to be free, it must be made without unwarranted pressure or threats.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1205, The elements of democracy, Part 73: Privacy in modern democracies Privacy in modern democracies is a complex idea, but it is fundamental to human liberty.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1204, The elements of democracy, Part 72: The right to privacy On today's episode, we continue our examination of the right to privacy.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1203, The elements of democracy, Part 71: Liberal ideas spread to America On today's podcast, we examine the ideas that inspired the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1202, The elements of democracy, Part 70: The rise of liberalism in Europe Today we discuss the rise of classical liberalism in Europe.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1201, The elements of democracy, Part 69: Liberalism What is classical liberalism? Here's a hint: It isn't about donkeys and elephants.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1199, The elements of democracy, Part 67: Active participation in democracy. Yes, you too can participate in democracy. Find out how on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1198, The elements of democracy, Part 66: Direct democracy Learn what the difference is between an initiative an a referendum on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1197, The elements of democracy, Part 65:Holding public office Have you ever thought of running for public office? It's the most direct way to take part in self-governance.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1196, The elements of democracy, Part 64: Election campaigns Election campaigns are vital to democracy. Find out why on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1195, The elements of democracy, Part 63: Voting Why is voting important? When citizens vote, they collectively exercise their power as the political sovereign of a democracy.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1194, The elements of democracy, Part 62: Participation and civil society You not only have the right to be involved in your government, you have the obligation to engage in some form of self-government.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1193, The elements of democracy, Part 61: Rule by the people requires participation Democracy requires moderation, compromise, and personal sacrifice. Sure it's difficult, but the alternative is worse.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1192, The elements of democracy, Part 60: Disengagement is dangerous for democracy Sure, you're busy. Everybody is. But democracy doesn't just take care of itself.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1191, The elements of democracy, Part 59: Compromise and personal sacrifice Legislatures cannot function without compromise. And a democracy cannot thrive without personal sacrifices by citizens.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1190, The elements of democracy, Part 58: Tolerance and moderation Tolerance and moderation are key democratic values. Learn why these values are so important on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1189, The elements of democracy, Part 57: Influencing public policy Citizens can influence public policy and make their voices heard. Learn more on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1188, The elements of democracy, Part 56: Setting the public agenda The public can set the agenda for the political elites. One way to do this is by expressing your opinion in a public setting.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1187, The elements of democracy, Part 55: Participation Participation of citizens in democracy is the one element that will make democracy work; without adequate participation, democracy will fail.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1186, The elements of democracy, Part 54: The ultimate political authority Citizens are the ultimate political authority in a democracy. And it's up to them to keep it that way.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1185, The elements of democracy, Part 53: The fundamental responsibilities of citizens What are the fundamental responsibilities of citizens? Find out on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1184, The elements of democracy, Part 52: The fundamental rights of citizens What are the fundamental rights of citizens? Learn all about it on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1183, The elements of democracy, Part 51: Democratic citizenship Do rights imply responsibilities? Find out on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1182, The elements of democracy, Part 50: The moral obligations of citizens Citizens have certain moral obligations in a democracy. Learn what these are on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1181, The elements of democracy, Part 49: Maintaining order in a democracy The absence of intrusive authority is one of the benefits of living in a democracy. But this is only possible with a responsible, law-abiding citizenry.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1180, The elements of democracy, Part 48: Personal responsibility What one characteristic must citizens of a democracy possess in order for democracy to succeed? Find out on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1179, The elements of democracy, Part 47: Dare to know Learn about the Age of the Enlightenment and the meaning of the Latin phrase "sapere aude" on today's podcast
60-Second Civics: Episode 1178, The elements of democracy, Part 46: From despotism to democracy The common people were often treated like children by their rulers in ancient times. This began to change in Europe with Martin Luther.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1177, The elements of democracy, Part 45: Values of democratic citizenship To be successful, democratic citizenship requires commitment to certain values.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1176, The elements of democracy, Part 44: Obligations of democratic citizenship What are some of the obligations of democratic citizenship? Listen to today's episode to find out.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1175, The elements of democracy, Part 43: Citizens own the government In a democracy, the citizens own the government. But with this ownership comes some responsibilities.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1174, The elements of democracy, Part 42: Democracies need citizen support Citizens must understand their roles and act to fulfill them if democracy is to succeed.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1173, The elements of democracy, Part 41: Constitutional monarchy What is a constitutional monarchy? Do these monarch have any real political power?
60-Second Civics: Episode 1172, The elements of democracy, Part 40: Appropriation of the word "democracy" Authoritarian regimes love the word "democracy." This doesn't mean they actually are democracies, however.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1171, The elements of democracy, Part 39: Social democracy Germany and Sweden are both social democracies. Learn what a social democracy is on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1170, The elements of democracy, Part 38: Democratic republic What is a democratic republic? Is it the same as a democracy? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1169, The elements of democracy, Part 37: Republics A woman once asked Benjamin Franklin what sort of government we have. He replied, "a republic, madam, if you can keep it."
60-Second Civics: Episode 1168, The elements of democracy, Part 36: Delegates or trustees? Do you prefer your representatives to do your bidding or to think for themselves? We examine the issue on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1167, The elements of democracy, Part 35: Geographic, functional, and ideological representation On today's podcast, we discuss geographic, functional, and ideological representation.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1166, The elements of democracy, Part 34: Representative democracy It is impractical for people in modern democracies to vote on every issue that comes under consideration. That's why we have representative assemblies.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1165, The elements of democracy, Part 33: The human rights movement The human rights movement, along with the worldwide movement toward democracy, remains one of the most significant movements of our time.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1164, The elements of democracy, Part 32: Problems with human rights Human rights is an international movement, but the concept is fraught with problems and controversies.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1163, The elements of democracy, Part 31: Personal, political, economic, social, and cutural rights Human rights have their roots in medieval Europe and are now thought of as those rights that are required for human dignity and welfare.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1162, The elements of democracy, Part 30: Human rights and democracy Democracy and human rights are intimately connected. Find out how on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1160, The elements of democracy, Part 28: Human rights What are the origins of our concept of human rights? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1159, The elements of democracy, Part 27: Majority rule and minority rights The principle of majority rule is important to democracies, but so is the protection of minority rights.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1158, The elements of democracy, Part 26: Democratic deliberation Democratic deliberation should seek to promote the common good, not pursue dogma. Learn more on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1157, The elements of democracy, Part 25: Individual rights and the common good Democracies must weigh very carefully the common good and the basic rights of the individual.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1156, The elements of democracy, Part 24: Different interpretations of the common good The common good is an ideal of every democracy. But how do people interpret the meaning of the common good?
60-Second Civics: Episode 1155, The elements of democracy, Part 23: The common good The common good is a goal of every democracy. But where did this idea come from?
60-Second Civics: Episode 1154, The elements of democracy, Part 22: The spirit of equality Sure, everyone in a democracy is equal before the law; but what about the spirit of equality? Do democratic societies have a different way of thinking about people?
60-Second Civics: Episode 1151, The elements of democracy, Part 19: No second-class citizens The political, legal, and moral equality of every citizen is a fundamental value of democracy.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1150, The elements of democracy, Part 18: Minority treatment in democracies Differing minority groups and social fragmentation are just some of the problems faced by democracies.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1149, The elements of democracy, Part 17: Out of many, one Can people of varying ethnic, religious, and national identities ever form one political people? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1148, The elements of democracy, Part 16: Minority consent No minority group may be forcibly included in the establishment of a new state.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1147, The elements of democracy, Part 15: Who are "the people?" Democracy means "rule by the people." But who are "the people?"
60-Second Civics: Episode 1146, The elements of democracy, Part 14: Limited powers of democratic governments It is an abuse of power for a democratic government to claim more powers than the people have delegated it.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1145, The elements of democracy, Part 13: Alienation and consent The alienation of people from the political process is a big problem for modern democracies.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1144, The elements of democracy, Part 12: The people delegate authority In a democracy, the people delegate authority to their government, but "consent of the governed" is more complicated than it first appears.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1143, The elements of democracy, Part 11: Authority flows from the people Popular sovereignty means that authority flows from the people to the state, not the other way around.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1142, The elements of democracy, Part 10: Popular sovereignty What is popular sovereignty? Is government the master of the people, or is it the other way around? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1141, The elements of democracy, Part 9: Fundamental rights Do you have any fundamental rights--rights that cannot be violated by government? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1140, The elements of democracy, Part 8: The rule of law as an essential element of constitutionalism The rule of law is a primary element of constitutionalism.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1138, The elements of democracy, Part 6: Elections What three characteristics must elections in a democracy possess? Find out on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1137, The elements of democracy, Part 5: Rule by the people Learn about popular sovereignty and the consent of the governed on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1136, The elements of democracy, Part 4: Democracy defined What exactly is democracy? Why do we need it? Find out on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1135, The elements of democracy, Part 3: Political authority What is the relationship between political authority and political power? Find out on today's episode.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1132, The Framers, Part 56: Pierce Butler Pierce Butler was the son of an Anglo-Irish parliamentarian, but became a firebrand for the American side and a Framer of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1131, The Framers, Part 55: Charles Pinckney Charles Pinckney is the cousin of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney; both men signed the Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1130, The Framers, Part 54: Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Charles Cotesworth Pinckney is the cousin of Charles Pinckney; both were Framers of the Constitution from South Carolina.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1129, The Framers, Part 53: John Rutledge Framer John Rutledge supported the interests of the Southern states at the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1128, The Framers, Part 52: Gouverneur Morris Gouverneur Morris is known as the "Penman of the Constitution" for having written so much of the document.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1127, The Framers, Part 51: James Wilson James Wilson was a Framer of the Constitution who both signed the Declaration of Independence and defended the rights of loyalists.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1126, The Framers, Part 50: Jared Ingersoll Jared Ingersoll had a diverse political and legal career, and once ran for vice president.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1125, The Framers, Part 49: Thomas Fitzsimons Thomas Fitzsimons was born in Ireland, fought in the Revolutionary War, and later became leading statesman, representing Pennsylvania as a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1124, The Framers, Part 48: George Clymer A businessman, patriot, and politician, George Clymer served as a delegate from Pennsylvania at the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1123, The Framers, Part 47: Robert Morris He voted against independence, but remained a stalwart supporter of the new nation. Learn more about Robert Morris on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1122, The Framers, Part 46: Thomas Mifflin Expelled from the Quaker church for serving in the military, Thomas Mifflin nevertheless had a successful career in politics.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1121, The Framers, Part 45: Benjamin Franklin Inventor, scientist, diplomat, publisher--and that was just the beginning. Benjamin Franklin was justifiably one of the most famous Americans to attend the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1120, The Framers, Part 44: Alexander Martin Alexander Martin was aquitted of the charge of cowardice after the Battle of Germantown, but it didn't hurt his political career.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1119, The Framers, Part 43: William R. Davie William R. Davie founded the University of North Carolina and was a Framer of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1118, The Framers, Part 42: Hugh Williamson Hugh Williamson was a very active delegate to the Philadelphia Convention from North Carolina.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1117, The Framers, Part 41: Richard Dobbs Spaight Sr. Richard Dobbs Spaight was only 29 when he attended the Philadelphia Convention and looked forward to a successful political career. His life was cut short, however, when he was killed in a duel at the age of 44.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1116, The Framers, Part 40: William Blount William Blount, a Framer of the Constitution from North Carolina, went on to become a senator from Tennessee and was expelled for planning an invasion of Spanish territory.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1115, The Framers, Part 39: Robert Yates Robert Yates, a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention from New York, believed that the convention had exceeded its authority. He left the convention early.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1114, The Framers, Part 38: John Lansing Jr. John Lansing Jr. opposed the proposed Constitution because he believed the Articles Confederation should simply have been amended. He worked against ratification in New York.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1113, The Framers, Part 37: Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton was one of the most brilliant men to attend the Philadelphia Convention, but he played a relatively small role there.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1112, The Framers, Part 36: William Paterson William Paterson was born in Ireland. His parents emigrated to America and he became an influential Framer of the Constitution and Supreme Court justice.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1111, The Framers, Part 35: William Livingston William Livingston was a Framer from New Jersey. He served in the Continental Congress and as governor of the state.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1110, The Framers, Part 34: William C. Houston Happy Independence Day! Today we learn about William C. Houston, a Framer of the Constitution from New Jersey.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1109, The Framers, Part 33: Jonathan Dayton Jonathan Dayton joined the army after college and was plunged directly into the Revolutionary War. He was later the youngest signer of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1108, The Framers, Part 32: David Brearly David Brearly was an avid patriot and a Framer of the Constitution from New Jersey.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1107, The Framers, Part 31: John Langdon One of the two delegates to the Constitutional Convention from New Hampshire, John Langdon had little education, but made his mark in Revolution-era America.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1106, The Framers, Part 30: Nicholas Gilman Nicholas Gilman was a Framer of the Constitution from New Hampshire. He worked to ensure ratification of the document in New Hampshire.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1105, The Framers, Part 29: Caleb Strong He served as a senator and governor of Massachusetts and was an ardent supporter of the Constitution. Learn about Caleb Strong on today's podcast.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1104, The Framers, Part 28: Rufus King One of the youngest delegates to the Philadelphia Convention, Rufus King spoke eloquently and argued for a stronger national government.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1103, The Framers, Part 27: Nathaniel Gorham Today's Framer is Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, who played an important role in the Philadelphia Convention as a delegate from Massachusetts.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1102, The Framers, Part 26: Elbridge Gerry Today we learn about Elbridge Gerry, the Framer of the Constitution who gave the English language the term "gerrymander."
60-Second Civics: Episode 1101, The Framers, Part 25: John Francis Mercer John Francis Mercer studied law under Thomas Jefferson. He opposed a strong central government and opposed ratification of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1100, The Framers, Part 24: James McHenry James McHenry was born in Ireland in 1753. He acceded to positions of authority in Maryland and in the national government.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1099, The Framers, Part 23: Luther Martin Luther Martin did not sign the Constitution because he could not gain enough support for ideas he thought were important. Nevertheless favored a bill of rights, which was eventually adopted.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1098, The Framers, Part 22: Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer was a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention from Maryland. He supported the positions of James Madison and favored a strong national government.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1097, The Framers, Part 21: Daniel Carroll One of the two Catholic signers of the Constitution, Daniel Carroll campaigned for ratification in Maryland.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1096, The Framers, Part 19: William Pierce William Pierce served in the Revolutionary War and helped frame the Constitution, but is best known for his descriptions of other delegates.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1095, The Framers, Part 19: Willam Houston This Framer of the Constitution was criticized as having little or no legal or political knowledge.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1094, The Framers, Part 18: William Few The British forced his family to flee to Georgia, but William Few became one of the state's first senators.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1093, The Framers, Part 17: Abraham Baldwin Abraham Baldwin was a founder of the University of Georgia and a Framer of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1092, The Framers, Part 16: George Read George Read supported "dignified" protests against the British, but did not sign the Declaration. He argued for ratification of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1091, The Framers, Part 15: John Dickinson John Dickinson had a large role in Revolution-era America. He had strongly opposed British taxation and helped write the Articles of Confederation and Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1088, The Framers, Part 12: Richard Bassett Richard Bassett was a man of accomplishment, like so many of his contemporaries at the Philadelphia Convention.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1087, The Framers, Part 11: Roger Sherman Roger Sherman had a successful career by any standard. He served in the House and Senate and helped draft the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and Constitution.
60-Second Civics: Episode 1086, The Framers, Part 9: William Samuel Johnson William Samuel Johnson tried to be a peacemaker during the Revolution. Failing at that, he helped write the Constitution.
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