1776 Study Guide -- Learn Your Liberty ABCs

Lesson 1
Overview of what has been happening in America the last 100 years. Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver’s story about his original belief in Communism and his subsequent change-of-heart, the 180 years it took the Founders to come up with their formula of Freedom and Posterity, educational standard changes in America, de Tocqueville, the Monroe Doctrine.

Lesson 2
The Founders’ search for an Ideal Society. Not since the days of the ancient Greeks had any group of political leaders sought as diligently as the American Founders for the best possible society. People’s Law vs. Ruler’s Law, the Israelites and the Mosaic Code. The Vikings, Checks & Balances in government, Communism, National Socialism, Democratic Socialism.

Lesson 3
Why did the Founders think Basic Beliefs were so tremendously important? Once you have a sound structure of Constitutional government, does it really matter what the people believe? The principle books the Founders studied, John Locke, Adam Smith, Sir William Blackstone, Secular Humanism, Plato.

Lesson 4
Covers the tempestuous historical period when the American heritage came into being. What has happened in the last 500 years since America was discovered? We have ventured into space, gone through an industrial revolution which produced a 5,000 year leap in human progress, completely revolutionized transportation, communications, food production, textiles, medicine, and entered the nuclear age. Best of all, America came up with a Formula for Freedom, both politically and economically, which became the Hope of the world. One generation of ignorant Americans could lose everything; we don’t want to be that generation.

Lesson 5
The birth of a nation. In a sense the birth of the United States of America occurred in the Pennsylvania State House. Here the Declaration of Independence was debated and adopted. This is also where the Constitution for the United States was hammered out and finally signed on September 17, 1787.

Lesson 6
Covers the miracle at Philadelphia, the Constitutional Convention.

Lesson 7
The baptism by fire. On September 17, 1787 the Constitution was sent to the Congress in New York with a transmittal letter signed by George Washington. James Madison and others who helped write the Constitution were members of Congress and they enthusiastically explained the new American charter of government to their colleagues. After only eight days of hearings, the Congress approved the Constitution without any changes and sent it to the States. Each state was invited to call a special convention to ratify the new Constitution.

Lesson 8
The States delegate 20 powers to Congress. In 1776 the States refused to delegate enough authority to Congress so it could perform its legitimate functions. As a result America almost lost the Revolutionary War. Video Lessons 8 and 9 explain the things Congress is forbidden to do; the things the States are forbidden to do; and the things the States cannot do unless Congress consents.

Lesson 9
The States delegate 20 Powers to Congress.

Lesson 10
The most powerful political office in the world – the President of the United States. The Founders would be deeply shocked to learn that under the influence of a collectivist philosophy known as Democratic Socialism (government control of the economy with the consent of the People’s representatives), the President has had heaped upon him a host of other responsibilities never dreamed of by the Founders. This is a dangerous threat to the People because the Office of the President has shattered many of the “chains,” or restrictions, which were originally provided in the Constitution.