America's Amazing Bill of Rights

Essential American History and Government. A dynamic crash course including US history, constitutional law and civics.

Created byBob Galante

Last updated 3/2019

English

What you'll learn

Students will gain interesting and relevant examples of how each amendment in the Bill of Rights applies to day-to-day life.

Course content

1 section • 12 lectures • 1h 15m total length

Introduction7:41
Explore how America's Constitution and the Bill of Rights protect individual rights against majority tyranny, define government powers across the three branches, and evolve as a living document through originalism.
Amendment 18:01
Explains how the First Amendment protects religious liberty and prevents a state church, notes wall of separation, and defends free speech and press as essential to democracy.
Amendment 25:48
Explore the debate over the Second Amendment’s meaning, contrasting an armed citizenry with a standing army, and trace how cases like Miller and Heller shape individual rights and gun control.
Amendment 33:32
Defend the third amendment's protection of the home from military intrusion and its aim of civilian authority over the military, linking it to the second and fourth amendments.
Amendment 46:07
Explore the fourth amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, the exclusionary rule, and landmark cases such as Riley v. California and Mapp v. Ohio.
Amendment 56:32
Examine the fifth amendment’s protections against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and eminent domain, and discuss its reach over capital punishment and civil asset forfeiture in balancing government power with rights.
Amendment 67:59
Explore how the sixth amendment guarantees counsel, speedy public trials, impartial juries, and informed charges, illustrated by Gideon's retrial, cross-examination rights, and compelled witness testimony.
Amendment 76:53
Explore why the Seventh Amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases, highlighting peer juries, the dangers of mandatory arbitration, and the impact of verdict caps.
Amendment 85:40
Examine the eighth amendment's bans on excessive bail, fines, and cruel or unusual punishment, and compare originalism with evolving standards of decency across capital punishment, juveniles, and prison practices.
Amendment 96:15
Explore the ninth amendment’s promise of unenumerated rights, its controversy, and how courts interpret flexibility amid debates like Roe versus Wade, privacy, and due process.
Amendment 106:20
Explore how the Tenth Amendment shapes federal and state powers, from slavery and civil rights to California vs. EPA clean car standards, revealing dual sovereignty in America.
Adding It Up4:34
Explore how the Constitution and Bill of Rights channel conflict through stable institutions to protect rights and limit government. Includes a downloadable test and teacher activities.
Bill of Rights Course Assessment
The Case of the Blogging Teacher
The Notorious Prison and Freedom of the Press
Problem in a Free Press: The TV Debate
Problem in a Free Press: The Gag Order
Eminent Domain: Defining the Public Interest
A Clemency Hearing for Karla Faye Tucker

Requirements

Course is created for a general audience and no special knowledge is needed. If you have some background in American history, you will still find new insights here.

Description

Do you want to understand what makes America different from every other nation, while having fun? Learn why the U.S. Bill of Rights is a unique document in world history. I uncover each of the first 10 amendments in the Bill of Rights using stories, pros and cons, and practical takeaways. At the end, you can take a test to see what you've learned.

Most of all, you will gain an appreciation of how insightful and prescient the founding fathers were in avoiding the pitfalls of other republics in designing their masterpiece. Each amendment is approached from the perspectives of American history, civics and law. Whether you know nothing about the Bill of Rights or you are a seasoned pro, I guarantee you will gain a lot from this course. It's an hour packed with facts and insights from my 30 years of teaching. It could have been 20 hours, but it's not meant to be exhaustive. Rather, I chose to distill these carefully to maximize your learning in the time you spend.

Who this course is for:

Anyone who wants to understand why the US Bill of Rights is unique in the history of the world. The lectures are short and to the point -- designed for people who want an everyday understanding of this crucial foundation of American life.