The rhetoric and practice of supporting democracy around the world has been a part of American diplomacy for more than a century. Alongside episodes of hypocrisy and horrible failure, one can also observe moments of sincerity and spectacular success. This course will consider both, with a particular emphasis on American policy and Latin America during the 20th century.

The Academy offers educators content and strategies for teaching the "Seven Principles of Constitutionalism" and the "U.S. Constitution in Time of Crisis." Important events and decisions concerning equality in American history will also be studied. A team of talented scholars and consultants will present information and lessons dealing with TAKS Objectives One and Four. A variety of demonstrated lessons will incorporate multi-use visuals, music, and interactive strategies.

"An NCHE team of Fritz Fischer, Ted Green, and Lucinda Evans will explore the topic of Extending the Common Good in the 20th Century at this colloquium."

"Elementary, middle and high school teachers from across Virginia will travel to James Madison's Montpelier for 3 1/2 days of intensive work with the We the People curriculum. The institute will feature three lectures on content from We the People, work with fellow teachers to ways to implement the curriculum in their classroom and the institute will conclude with the mock congressional hearing."

"We the People institute, a rigorous professional development program, provides teachers the opportunity to work with constitutional scholars from a variety of disciplines. Participants complete academic readings, attend morning lectures and participate in afternoon sessions dedicated to the content and teaching methods appropriate to the We the People curriculum."

"We the People institute, a rigorous professional development program, provides teachers the opportunity to work with constitutional scholars from a variety of disciplines. Participants complete academic readings, attend morning lectures and participate in afternoon sessions dedicated to the content and teaching methods appropriate to the We the People curriculum."

"We the People institute, a rigorous professional development program, provides teachers the opportunity to work with constitutional scholars from a variety of disciplines. Participants complete academic readings, attend morning lectures and participate in afternoon sessions dedicated to the content and teaching methods appropriate to the We the People curriculum."

This seminar, led by Drew McCoy of Clark University, will explore the period in U.S. history from 1789 to 1844, offering "in-depth exploration of historic personalities, themes, and events and intensive work with primary source materials."

"Franklin's 'Autobiography' and Jefferson's 'Notes on the State of Virginia' are exemplary expressions of the principles that inform the American way of life. The course aims to recover what such a claim means by paying careful attention to what the books say about nature, human desires, reason, education, religion, government, farming, commerce, and several other things. As time permits, we will consider related writings of Franklin and Jefferson."

"Alexis de Tocqueville's 'Democracy in America' is the best study of America to be written by a foreigner. It examines government, religion, the races, private associations, literature, the family, and much else, all the while contrasting democratic America with old aristocratic Europe. This course will examine as much of the book as we can, focusing especially on Tocqueville's account of the love of equality (and its dangers) and his prescriptions for the preservation of liberty."