Skip to Main Content

#PrinciplesandVirtues

The American Principles and Virtues shape our republic with ordered liberty and help form the conscience of the nation.

Download the Student Handouts

Founding Principles Framework

Introduction

Drawn from an examination of human nature, the foundations of the government of the United States are oriented around the ideas of liberty and equality as articulated in the natural rights tradition of John Locke and others. This tradition holds that, by nature of their existence, human beings possess rights independent of any governing or societal power. In the maintenance of these rights, natural rights thinkers saw the greatest possibility for individuals to flourish through the freedom to direct their own lives.

It was an understanding of these fundamental principles that informed the design of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The principles below define the Constitution's protections for this purpose. In understanding these principles, 'We the People' are better able to protect and advance freedom and opportunity for all.

Together, these principles bind diverse, self-governing people together in communities and promote a healthy civil society. The list below is not comprehensive but provides a starting place for investigating the American experiment in self-government.

Middle & High School Student Handout

Definitions that are approachable for students learning American Government and/or U.S. History.

Download Student Handout

Elementary Student Handout

Definitions that are approachable for little learners.

Download Student Handout

Founding Principles Definitions

These are the philosophical principles which provide the focus for the governing structure of the United States. Introductory videos to many of the topics are provided.

  • Natural/Inalienable Rights: Rights which belong to humans by nature and can only be justly abridged through due process. Examples are life, liberty, and property.
  • Liberty: The power to think and act as one sees fit without restraint except by the laws of nature and interfering with someone else’s rights.
  • Equality: All individuals have the same claim as human beings to natural rights and treatment under the law.
  • Justice: Having a political order that protects the rights of all equally and treats everyone equally under the law.

These principles of republicanism provide the foundations upon which the sovereignty of the people within government is maintained.

  • Majority Rule/Minority Rights: Laws are made with the consent of the majority but do not infringe on the inalienable rights of the minority.
  • Consent of the Governed/Popular Sovereignty: The power of government comes from the people.
  • Democracy: A form of government in which ultimate authority is based directly on the will of the people.
  • Republic: A constitutional form of government with elected representatives who represent and “refine and enlarge” the will of the people.

To keep the governing power to its proper scope, government must be limited and provide recourse for citizens to be protected from arbitrary power.

  • Rule of Law: Government and citizens all abide by the same laws regardless of political power. Those laws must be stable and justly applied.
  • Due Process: The government must apply laws and rules equally to all people.

To keep government within these limited bounds, there must be rules that bind both individual citizens and government action.

  • Separation of Powers: The branches of government each have powers to limit the powers of the other branches and to prevent any branch from becoming too powerful.
  • Checks and Balances: Constitutional powers are distributed among the branches of government allowing each to limit the application of power of the other branches and to prevent expansion of power of any branch.
  • Federalism: The national and state governments have a balance of separate and shared powers. The people delegate certain powers to the national government, while the states retain other powers; and the people retain all powers not delegated to the governing bodies.

As a final recourse against government abuse, the Founding generation codified a list of rights that they believed were essential to the maintenance of their constitutional governing structure.

  • Freedom of Religion: The right to choose one’s religion or form of worship, if any, without interference; freedom of conscience.
  • Freedom of Speech, Press, and Assembly: The right to express one’s opinions freely, orally or in writing, and the right to gather with others in groups of one’s choice without arbitrary or unreasonable restrictions.
  • Private Property: The natural right of all individuals to create, obtain, and control their possessions, beliefs, faculties, and opinions as well as the fruits of their labor.

Virtues & Vices Student Handout

Contains definitions appropriate for middle & high school students.

 

Virtues Framework

Introduction

The maintenance of our republican government requires the people be vigilant, informed, and virtuous, ensuring that governing institutions are directed towards their right ends. Good habits, or virtues, promote self-government and help guarantee that communities orient themselves towards advancing the spirit of a common purpose. The continuation of the American experiment in self-government requires we know, understand, and practice these virtues. A list of civic virtues and their corresponding vices are provided below. Lessons that explore these topics are linked where available.

Virtues
Vices
Courage: The ability to take constructive action in the face of fear or danger; to stand firm as a person of character and do what is right, especially when it is unpopular or puts one at risk.

How did Elizabeth Eckford display courage?
Cowardice: Failing to take constructive action in the face of fear or danger. A lack of firmness or conviction.
Honor: Demonstrating good character and being trustworthy.
Dishonor: Failing to demonstrate good character and integrity and acting deceptively.

How did Benedict Arnold act with dishonor?
Humility: A recognition that one’s ignorance is far greater than one’s knowledge. Putting others ahead of ourselves in thought, word, and deed. A willingness to give others credit and to admit when we are wrong.
Hubris: To have excessive pride, vanity, and arrogance that usually leads to a tragic fall.

How did General Douglas MacArthur act with hubris?
Integrity: To tell the truth, expose untruths, and keep
one’s promises.

How did the Schecter Brothers act with integrity?
Self-Deception: Acting on a belief that a false idea or situation is true. Being deluded or deceived by ideas that endanger the humanity of others and movements that are unjust.

How did John Brown act under self-deception?
Justice: Upholding of what is fair and right. Respecting
the rights and dignity of all.

How did Jourdon Anderson seek justice for himself?
Injustice: To harm others by applying unequal rules and damaging another's inalienable rights and dignity.

How did Roger Taney's actions facilitate injustice?
Moderation: The avoidance of excess or extremes.
Immoderation (Extremism): Acting in excess or to an extreme. Lacking restraint.

How did "Boss" Tweed display immoderation?
Prudence: Practical wisdom that applies reason and other
virtues to discern the right courses of action in specific situations.

How did George Washington act with prudence?
Imprudence: Acting without care or thoughtfulness for consequences. Exercising a lack of wisdom appropriate to situations.
Respect: Regard for and defending the equal rights and
inherent dignity of all human beings, including oneself.
Contempt: Showing disregard, disdain, or lack of consideration for someone or something worthy of action or admiration.
Responsibility: Acting on good judgment about what is
right or wrong even when it is not popular. Individuals
must take care of themselves, their families, and their
fellow citizens/others in civil society and a republic and
be vigilant to preserve their own liberty and the liberty of
others.

How did Alice Paul act with responsibility?
Irresponsibility: Acting on poor judgment or failing the trust others place in you.

How did Joseph McCarthy act irresponsibly?

Virtues & Vice Video Library

Short videos that correspond with lessons from our Heroes & Villains curriculum.

Video

Clara Barton and Responsibility: Heroes & Villains

2 Min

How does an individual’s responsibility to their fellow citizens affect the health of a civil society? Explore the story of Clara Barton in this video feature of BRI's Heroes and Villains Curriculum to help determine how she exhibited the virtue of responsibility. Heroes and Villains uses narratives to discuss the concepts of civic virtue in all classrooms. Each virtue narrative includes corresponding discussion guides, journal templates, a toolbox with additional activities, and suggestions for further reading on each topic or virtue.

Video

Elizabeth Eckford and Courage: Heroes & Villains

3 Min

Why is individual courage necessary for the success of the larger community or civil society? Explore the story of Elizabeth Eckford in this video feature of BRI's Heroes and Villains Curriculum to help determine how she exhibited the virtue of courage. Heroes and Villains uses narratives to discuss the concepts of civic virtue in all classrooms. Each virtue narrative includes corresponding discussion guides, journal templates, a toolbox with additional activities, and suggestions for further reading on each topic or virtue.

Video

Benedict Arnold & Dishonor: Heroes and Villains

3 Min

Why is acting dishonorably destructive to a healthy political system and civil society? Explore the story of Benedict Arnold in this video feature of BRI's Heroes and Villains Curriculum to help determine how he exhibited the vice of dishonor. Heroes and Villains uses narratives to discuss the concepts of civic virtue in all classrooms. Each virtue narrative includes corresponding discussion guides, journal templates, a toolbox with additional activities, and suggestions for further reading on each topic or virtue.

Video

Aaron Burr and Hubris: Heroes & Villains

3 Min

How do you know when ambition is self-sacrificing and when it is self-serving? Explore the story of Aaron Burr in this video feature of BRI's Heroes and Villains Curriculum to help determine how he exhibited the vice of hubris. Heroes and Villains uses narratives to discuss the concepts of civic virtue in all classrooms. Each virtue narrative includes corresponding discussion guides, journal templates, a toolbox with additional activities, and suggestions for further reading on each topic or virtue.

Video

Thomas Jefferson and Prudence: Heroes & Villains

2 Min

How can prudence help leaders make decisions in difficult circumstances? Explore the story of Thomas Jefferson in this video feature of BRI's Heroes and Villains Curriculum to help determine how he exhibited the virtue of prudence. Heroes and Villains uses narratives to discuss the concepts of civic virtue in all classrooms. Each virtue narrative includes corresponding discussion guides, journal templates, a toolbox with additional activities, and suggestions for further reading on each topic or virtue.