Law and liberty cannot rationally become the objects of our love, unless they first become the objects of our knowledge. - James Wilson, 1790
The mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society. It is the goal of the Institute to help the next generation understand the freedom and opportunity the Constitution offers.
Before I started the Bill of Rights Institute in September of 1999, I began my career as an American History teacher. My favorite task each year was to teach America’s Founding documents, especially the Constitution. My objective was to communicate to my students the privilege of American citizenship so that they might take ownership of their rights and civic responsibilities. I believed – and still believe – that an understanding of our Founding documents lays a foundation for young people to appreciate what it means to be an American.
After leaving the classroom and working in nonprofit organizations for a number of years, I was inspired to return to my educational roots by the alarming research demonstrating young peoples’ dangerous lack of knowledge about American history and the Constitution. The underlying causes, research shows, are lack of teacher knowledge and insufficient instructional materials.
I founded the Bill of Rights Institute with a strategic plan to combat these problems. This plan included three vital steps: (1) Provide teachers with the instructionalmaterials needed to develop their students’ knowledge, (2) Educate and train teachers about the Founding documents, and (3) Educate students in their civic responsibilities and rights.
Thanks to the financial support of thousands of generous and patriotic Americans, the Bill of Rights Institute is executing this plan and is making a difference. Thank you for your interest in the Bill of Rights Institute. Together we are reaching millions of students with the principles and values that make America great.
Victoria Hughes
President