As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, students confront the enduring question at the heart of American democracy: How do we protect freedom while governing effectively in times of crisis?
Through interactive scenarios, real Supreme Court cases, and the words of Robert H. Jackson, students step into the role of decision-makers and explore how constitutional principles guide difficult choices about power, liberty, and responsibility.
Available as an in-school assembly, classroom program, or virtual presentation.
In 1776, Americans launched a revolutionary experiment: a government powerful enough to function yet limited enough to preserve liberty. Nearly 250 years later, that experiment continues.
America at 250: Freedom, Power, and the Choices that Keep Democracy Alive invites students to grapple with the same constitutional dilemmas that have shaped the nation’s history.
Led by educators from the Robert H. Jackson Center, the program combines storytelling, primary sources, polling, and guided discussion to make constitutional issues concrete and relevant.
Students examine landmark decisions authored by Jamestown native and Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, including:
West Virginia v. Barnette — Can the government force speech in the name of unity? (Middle School)
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer — How far can presidential power extend during emergencies? (High School)
Students then apply these principles to modern-style scenarios involving free speech, public safety, executive power, and civic responsibility.
Rather than delivering answers, the program develops constitutional reasoning skills, helping students understand not just what rights they have, but why those rights exist and how they are preserved.
Students will:
Understand the founding ideals behind American independence
Examine how constitutional principles evolve over time
Analyze tensions between liberty, security, and government power
Practice civic reasoning and evidence-based argument
Reflect on their role in sustaining democratic institutions
Middle School and High School
45-60 minutes is ideal (but we can work with your class schedule)
email: ehosier@roberthjackson.org
or
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