Civics & Citizenship

Recapture Our American Civil Discourse

Candace teaches the fundamentals of liberty that inspired the American system of government.
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Crafting America’s Defining Sentence, 1776

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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 a draft of the Declaration of Independence.” This art piece draws us into the creation of the Declaration of Independence, as illustrated in Walter Isaacson’s “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written” (The Greatest Sentence Ever Written (2025), Simon & Schuster). The Declaration's Defining Sentence So, what does Isaacson claim is the greatest sentence ever written? It’s found in the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence.  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are …

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Protecting Worship: A Historical Overview

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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 William J. Federer traces the history of protecting worship from disruption.(Link to the full article appears below). Here are a few examples worth your time. You may have to work through old English, but you’ll get the gist of the meaning: 17th-Century Laws on Disturbing Religious Services Massachusetts Bay Colony Cambridge Platform, 1648: "7. ... venting corrupt and pernicious opinions ... open contempt of the word preached, prophanation of the Lord's day, disturbing the peaceable administration and exercise of the worship and holy things of God, and the like, are to be restrained and punished by civil authority." Charter of Carolina, March …

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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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Recent Articles

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. […]

Remembering MLK: Sit‑Ins, Fire Hoses, and Courage

My earliest recollections of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are of him leading non-violent, constitutional protests in the 1960s. I was a news consumer from a young age, and Dr. King was on my black-and-white television screen every night, leading throngs of respectfully dressed, well-behaved protesters seeking equal rights in our nation.  Remembering Sit‑Ins and […]

Think Like An American Again

This year promises to be an adventurous year, and not for the faint of heart! To prepare for what lies ahead, I will write a series of articles here on our founding documents. After all, ignorance is not bliss in contemporary culture. We need to be prepared, not only with knowledge but with the ability […]

Why the Founders Chose Three Branches

How did our Founders arrive at the concept of three branches of government, and why does it matter?  The Concept of Three Branches of Government Goes Way Back Have  you ever heard of Polybius, the ancient Greek historian? Me neither, until today. He found the three popular forms of governance in his day to have […]

Values That Secure Our Republic

What values will make America strong enough to withstand world threats attempting to bring our nation down? The Role of Suffering in National Victory I submit that suffering is a necessary attribute to achieving victory. How would our nation fare if we had to endure hardship to achieve victory in the end? Do we believe […]

Looking Forward to a New Year

I loved Year In Review segments as a kid, and continued the tradition into adulthood. This year, however, I took a pass. Division and discord seem to summarize 2025. I don’t care to re-live it. I’m ready to move forward, with lessons from the past and a renewed focus on what matters to a common-sense […]