As we celebrate Presidents' Day, I think about some of our defining moments in history and leadership. What comes to mind is the American War for Independence, the Civil War, World War II, and today. Whatever defining moments we have in our American history, presidential leadership matters in each of them. I am reflecting on those defining moments and the attributes of American leadership at the time, such as: -Fighting for Independence, believing that it was America's right, "to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and Nature's God entitle them…," and leading the people to victory. -Fighting to end slavery, believing that we are America, "conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal," then ending slavery. -Entering the war to defeat totalitarianism by declaring "a day that will live in infamy," then garnering the nation's support to fight and win. -Seeking change …
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Self-Evident Truth in the Declaration
Did you know that Thomas Jefferson’s original draft of the Declaration of Independence did not include the phrase “self-evident”? He originally wrote in the rough draft, “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable…” Benjamin Franklin changed the draft to read, “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” In Walter Isaacson’s “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written” (The Greatest Sentence Ever Written (2025), Simon & Schuster), we discover the history of the phrase “self-evident truth” (pages 7-9). It started with a friendship between Franklin and Scottish philosopher David Hume. The History Behind “Self-Evident Truth” in the Declaration In his book, Walter Isaacson describes the friendship between Franklin and Hume as one where “They spent their evenings together discussing ideas of natural rights, social contracts, and the revolutionary stirrings rising in the American colonies.” This led to Hume’s philosophical theory of truths: one is “synthetic,” and the other is …
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Candace has a variety of teaching experiences and is a certified instructor for adults and homeschoolers through the Institute on the Constitution. Her hobbies include walking, world travel, Pilates, writing, and spending time with her grandsons. …
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Presidents’ Day Reflections
As we celebrate Presidents’ Day, I think about some of our defining moments in history and leadership. What comes to mind is the American War for Independence, the Civil War, World War II, and today. Whatever defining moments we have in our American history, presidential leadership matters in each of them. I am reflecting on […]
Self-Evident Truth in the Declaration
Did you know that Thomas Jefferson’s original draft of the Declaration of Independence did not include the phrase “self-evident”? He originally wrote in the rough draft, “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable…” Benjamin Franklin changed the draft to read, “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” In Walter Isaacson’s “The Greatest Sentence […]
Why the First Amendment Isn’t Unlimited
Does the First Amendment allow you to say anything you want, where you want, and how you want to say it? That is the belief of many Americans who have not been taught basic elements of the First Amendment. Several of our participants here at Common Sense Civics and Citizenship believe this and say that […]
What “Nazi” Actually Means
(The following description may be difficult for sensitive readers.) Do you think words matter, especially words that are associated with genocide? You have heard the word “Nazi” used often in the news. I think we need to review the correct use of that word. Let’s dive in. What the Term “Nazi” Really Refers To “Nazi” […]
Study Law, Not Promises, When Voting
Voters should set aside emotion and judge candidates by their constitutional fidelity and past actions. Emotion vs. Scrutiny It is good practice to stand back from the emotion of issues and put them under scrutiny. It’s also good practice to avoid voting for promises. We vote based on a record of action and support for […]
Crafting America’s Defining Sentence, 1776
Look closely at the picture accompanying this article—history in the making. The painting is “Writing the Declaration of Independence, 1776” by J.L.G. Ferris. The Library of Congress describes the painting as “Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams meet at Jefferson’s lodgings, on the corner of Seventh and High (Market) streets in Philadelphia, to review […]
Protecting Worship: A Historical Overview
Did you know that as early as the 17th century, there were laws on the books forbidding the disruption of a religious service in our land? Some news sources claim that disturbing a church service falls under First Amendment rights. However, laws against disrupting religious services date back to the 17th century in America. Historian […]
True American Citizenship: Values, Beliefs, and Freedom
Recently, I received this question from one of our participants at Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. He asks, “The problem (one of many) is, many modern Americans have a very haughty opinion of themselves, just because they are American…They have a high opinion of themselves simply because they can claim “citizenship”. Candace, please “dive in” […]
The First Amendment: Peaceable, Not Permissive
Does it bother you when our Constitution is misquoted? It sure gets under my skin. The lack of civics education is once again showing up in America. Over the weekend, we heard the twisting of the First Amendment to say something it doesn’t say about protesting. For example, we heard something like this: “The U.S. […]
