Election Ends, Work Begins

Forward

History was made on several fronts last week as the country saw a record-breaking turnout in the 2020 election, with at least 161 million Americans voting. More women than ever will be serving in the next U.S. Congress, and Kamala Harris is projected to be the first woman to serve as Vice President of the United States.

Now the real work begins, not just for our elected officials, but for all of us who have entrusted them with their offices. The Founders believed that self-government can only succeed when citizens remain engaged and committed to civic virtues like courage, self-sacrifice, and humility. This is one of the themes we explore today through the resources highlighted in this newsletter.

BRI Lessons and Resources

2020 Was a Contentious Election, But Was It the Worst Ever?
In this new scholar talk YouTube video, BRI Senior Teaching Fellow Tony Williams and Jonathan White, Associate Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University, piece together the historical background behind the election of 1824, one of the most contentious in American history.

Challenges of Citizenship: Two Student Activities
In the first activity, students read the quotations in Handout A: Civic Virtues and the Constitution and decide what civic values it requires of citizens. In the second activity, students use Handout B: Identifying Civic Virtues in Current Events to conduct a scavenger hunt for examples of civic virtue in everyday life.

Women in the Political World Today
Kamala Harris' projected election as vice president provides a great opportunity to more closely examine the evolving role of women in the political world today in this lesson from our Votes for Women resource.

Congress in the 20th and 21st Century
Many of the sweeping changes to the first branch of the federal government that took place in the 20th century have set the stage for the 117th Congress which will start on January 3, 2021. Learn more with this lesson from Congress and the Constitution.

Why is the drinking age set at 21? This new Homework Help video explores the dispute between states and the federal government over the legal age, and how it is an example of the principle of federalism in action.

BRI News and Other Opportunities

A Special Think the Vote Debate Question
We want to hear from your students! What does it mean to be an informed voter in 21st Century America? The students who make the strongest case for their position and their referring teachers will win a gift card, swag, and a chance at a $1000 scholarship.

Election Special: On Podcast & YouTube
Election 2020 has brought many constitutional and civic questions into public discussion. Gary and teachers from across America sat down with Dr. John Fortier, Director of Governmental Studies at Bipartisan Policy Center and author of Absentee and Early Voting: Trends, Promises, and Perils, to explore many of the burning questions we have about the modern-day election process. Watch it on YouTube or listen on Fabric of History!

Pulitzer Center's Letter for Global Change Contest
The deadline is this Friday, November 13 for The Pulitzer Center's Letters for Global Change Contest. Students can make their voices heard by writing a letter to their representative explaining the global issue they want them to prioritize. They could have their letter, photo, and bio published, and win $100 for their class! Contest details here.

What's New on YouTube

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Educator Spotlight

Meet Jennifer Jolley!
"One of my favorite things about teaching," says Jennifer Jolley, "is helping students understand the principles behind the Founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and, of course, the Bill of Rights." Jennifer currently teaches U.S. Government, AP Government and Politics, and AP Comparative Government at Palm Bay Magnet High School in Melbourne, Florida. She has been a secondary social studies teacher since 1993...Read More.

BoE: Bottom of Email

Step 1) Help students through one of the most divisive elections in their lifetimes...
Step 2) Help students with the aftermath of that election...whatever that may be.
*Try to keep it together*

Hello Dear Friends,

We know that for many of you this election isn't over yet. Your communities are stressed and it looks like the Electoral College vote on December 14, five weeks away, will be the final decider. Add that to 40 bazillion hours of work each week to teach online, in-person, and blended mixes as you simultaneously reimagine every lesson you have ever taught, all while being a critical resource for your young people as they yearn to be understood and feel heard. It is a lot. This is a note to say that BRI is here for you. What do you need? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. We are posting timely, relevant, digital lessons daily. Our team is here to help.

Last week in advance of the election, civic leaders from many of the nation's leading civic organizations (including BRI's president David Bobb) released a joint statement calling for the peaceful transition of presidential power and respect for the electoral system. If you have not read the statement, I'd encourage you to do so, You are the leaders in constitutional education it references, and we need your voices in our society right now.

With so much warmth to you all,

Rachel Davison Humphries
Director, Outreach
Bill of Rights Institute

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