Civics In A Year

The Center for American Civics
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What do you really know about American government, the Constitution, and your rights as a citizen? Civics in a Year is a fast-paced podcast series that delivers essential civic knowledge in just 10 minutes per episode. Over the course of a year, we’ll explore 250 key questions—from the founding documents and branches of government to civil liberties, elections, and public participation. Rooted in the Civic Literacy Curriculum from the Center for American Civics at Arizona State University, this series is a collaborative project supported by the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. Each episode is designed to spark curiosity, strengthen constitutional understanding, and encourage active citizenship. Whether you're a student, educator, or lifelong learner, Civics in a Year will guide you through the building blocks of American democracy—one question at a time.

  1. 6H AGO

    How 19th-Century Politics Fractured Over Slavery And Gave Rise To Republicans

    A nation doesn’t break in a single moment—it fractures across pulpits, newspapers, courtrooms, and party halls until the old order can’t bear the strain. We walk through the pivotal decades when the politics of slavery hardened from reluctant tolerance to militant defense, reshaping every institution in its path and forcing parties to choose sides. We start with a shift in moral language: from calling slavery a “necessary evil” to branding it a “positive good,” championed by John C. Calhoun. That turn wasn’t just rhetoric; it reworked constitutional claims, stoked sectional identity, and set a higher bar for compromise. As the United States grabbed new territory after the Mexican-American War, the Wilmot Proviso drew attention to Congress’s role in limiting slavery’s spread. Compromise tried to hold the center, but the Fugitive Slave Act pushed northern citizens into enforcing a system they opposed, while attempts to censor antislavery mail sparked free speech alarms. Then came violence in the halls of power, with Charles Sumner’s caning transforming outrage into organization. Kansas-Nebraska detonated the Missouri Compromise line and transformed a theoretical debate into a street-level conflict. Popular sovereignty empowered fraud and bloodshed, and it pulled Abraham Lincoln back into national life with a sharpened argument against the extension of slavery. Minor parties like Liberty and Free Soil became laboratories for anti-expansion ideas, while Democrats split and Whigs faltered. Dred Scott’s sweeping opinion further limited Congress and denied Black citizenship, triggering northern backlash and talk of nullification—the very tactic once claimed by the South. By the late 1850s, the logic of party politics flipped: slavery became the organizing principle, pushing tariffs and banks to the background and clearing the way for a Republican coalition that opposed the spread of slavery. If you’re interested in how ideas turn into platforms and platforms reshape history, this story is a masterclass in political realignment. Listen, subscribe, and share your take: which moment made compromise impossible? And if this lens sharpened your view of today’s coalitions, leave a review so others can find the show. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership Center for American Civics

    10 min

  2. 1D AGO

    Why The Whig Party Formed, Fought For Congress, And Fell To The Slavery Question

    A party built to check presidential power, unite a restless coalition, and knit the country together with roads and banks—then shattered by the nation’s defining moral crisis. That’s the arc of the Whig Party, and we walk it step by step with clear context and plain language. We start with the name itself—borrowed from Britain’s anti-monarchy tradition—and the animating idea that Congress, not the presidency, should drive national policy. From there, we unpack how Henry Clay and Daniel Webster crafted a legislative agenda for internal improvements, stable finance, and a restrained executive, and why Andrew Jackson’s vetoes and removal of federal deposits became a constitutional earthquake. We dig into the irony at the heart of Whig politics: a broad tent that could win a national election yet fracture overnight. Harrison’s brief presidency and John Tyler’s swift break with Whig priorities exposed a coalition held together by opposition more than shared vision. Then the center gave way. As slavery pushed to the foreground, Whigs split between pro-slavery Southerners and anti-slavery Northerners who found new homes in the Liberty and Free Soil movements. By 1854, Kansas-Nebraska turned their balancing act into an untenable silence, and the party dissolved. Along the way, we clarify nullification—Calhoun’s claim that states could block federal laws—and why even Jackson, a states’ rights advocate, rejected it as incompatible with the Constitution and the Union. What remains after the collapse? More than a name. Parts of the Whig program and its Congress-first mindset flowed into the emerging Republican Party, while the lesson of coalition politics—negation is not a governing platform—echoes into the present. If you care about how institutions shape policy, why parties rise and fall, and how constitutional arguments collide with moral crises, this deep dive connects the dots without the jargon. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership Center for American Civics

    10 min

  3. 2D AGO

    How The Jacksonian Democrats Built America’s First Modern Party

    A party wasn’t just born—it was engineered. We follow the rise of the Jacksonian Democrats from a murky Era of Good Feelings into a disciplined machine that reshaped American politics. With Dr. Sean Beienberg, we unpack how Martin Van Buren built modern party architecture around a strict, Jeffersonian reading of the Constitution, why Henry Clay’s national vision split old coalitions, and how a “corrupt bargain” story fueled a populist revolt against centralized power. We dig into the constitutional stakes that defined the 1820s: the Bank of the United States as a test of “necessary and proper,” internal improvements justified by commerce and postal powers, and the gravitational pull of John Marshall’s Court. Jackson’s charisma offered momentum, but the brains came from organizers and legal minds like Edward Livingston—so sharp that even Tocqueville, skeptical of Jackson, took notice. The throughline is the belief that concentrated federal power invites capture by elite interests, while tighter limits protect the many. Fast-forward to the twentieth century, and the terrain flips. The Progressives and the New Deal reimagined federal capacity as a shield for workers and a counterweight to private power, drawing in new voters and pushing many old Jacksonians toward the GOP. We talk candidly about what changed, what endured, and why comparisons between Jacksonian Democrats and today’s party only make sense when you separate rhetoric from constitutional vision. If you’re curious about party realignment, the Bank wars, and how populist energy becomes lasting structure, this is your map. If this deep dive helps you see American party history with fresh eyes, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves political history, and leave a quick review—what moment do you think changed the parties the most? Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership Center for American Civics

    11 min

  4. 5D AGO

    How Two Founders Shaped The Presidency, Parties, And Foreign Policy

    A young republic rarely gets to choose its identity in peace and quiet. We step into the charged crossroads where Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton wrestled over what “self-government” should actually look like, and how much power the federal center needs to keep a sprawling nation intact. Their clash was not just personal—it was a blueprint fight that forged the first party system and set the tone for the American presidency. We draw a vivid line from biography to belief: Hamilton, the wartime aide who saw national weakness up close, built a program of public credit, a national bank, and executive energy to bind the union. Jefferson, anchored in Virginia’s agrarian life, warned that concentrated finance and a robust executive would eclipse local liberty and corrode civic virtue. Those instincts were tested by four pivotal moments: the bank battle, Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation amid the French Revolution, the Whiskey Rebellion, and the Jay Treaty with Britain. Along the way, we revisit the Pacificus–Helvidius debate over war powers, examine how the federal government proved it could enforce law without sliding into tyranny, and unpack why a controversial treaty arguably protected American independence more than any speech could. What emerges is a set of living questions at the heart of constitutional government: Who leads on foreign policy? How far do implied powers reach? When does national purpose outrank state preference? And can a president belong to a party yet still serve all citizens? With Tocqueville’s insight—liberty articulated through structure versus equality pursued through decentralization—we find that America’s strength lies in weaving the two. Washington’s quiet genius was to harness Hamilton’s energy without surrendering to faction, inviting Congress into the big decisions while keeping the executive capable of acting when the country needed it most. If you care about war powers, federalism, the presidency, political parties, and the path to America 250, this conversation offers clarity without the noise. Listen, share with a friend who loves history and civics, and tell us where you land: Hamilton’s nation-first engine or Jefferson’s states-first compass? And if this moved your thinking, subscribe and leave a review so others can find the show. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership Center for American Civics

    26 min

  5. 6D AGO

    Hamilton Vs. Jefferson

    A cabinet feud reshaped a nation. We follow Hamilton and Jefferson from principled disagreement to hard-nosed dealmaking, showing how a debate over debt, a national bank, and the reach of implied powers birthed America’s first party system—and moved the capital to the Potomac. Hamilton’s reports on credit, currency, and tariffs aimed to harden the young republic into a credible economic power. Jefferson and Madison fought back, citing constitutional limits and warning against a financial engine that could smother the states. Caught between them, Washington refused party labels while embracing many Hamiltonian policies, a choice that deepened the rift and set the stage for a lasting realignment. The turning point arrives with a bargain: accept federal debt assumption, and the capital shifts from New York to Philadelphia and then into a new federal district on the Potomac. That trade delivered Washington, D.C., and, in time, the institutional backbone Hamilton wanted. We then chart the volatile elections of 1796 and 1800, from the awkward Adams–Jefferson pairing under the original rules to the bitter tie between Jefferson and Burr. Hamilton’s intervention in the House, siding with a rival he deemed principled, paved the way for Jefferson’s victory and the 12th Amendment—aligning the Constitution with party reality. The Federalists never reclaimed the presidency, yet their influence lingered. The Democratic-Republicans adopted pillars of national strength, including a revived bank after the War of 1812. Through Tocqueville’s lens, we compare a Federalist “liberty of institutions” with a Democratic-Republican push for institutional equality and state-centered power. Along the way, we surface the enduring questions: How far do implied powers reach? When should the executive lead policy? And how do rivals strike deals without breaking the constitutional frame? Subscribe for more deep dives into the ideas and inflection points that still shape American politics, and leave a review to tell us where you stand on the Hamilton–Jefferson divide. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership Center for American Civics

    22 min

  6. JAN 7

    Why Parties Emerged In Early America

    Why did a Constitution that never mentions parties give birth to them almost immediately? We trace the story from ratification battles to cabinet showdowns, connecting the dots between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, the shockwaves of the French Revolution, and the intellectual scaffolding laid by Montesquieu and Madison. Along the way, we unpack how foreign revolutions reframed domestic loyalties, why the idea of a loyal opposition became a safeguard for liberty, and how institutions invited passionate disagreement without inviting collapse. We take a careful look at Federalist 10, where Madison avoids the word “party” but squarely confronts faction. His solution—an extended republic that multiplies interests—sits beside the older, classical fear that factions are a republic’s genetic defect. That tension sets the stage for George Washington’s Farewell Address, where he embraces debate yet warns that partisan heat can outrun reason. His fireplace metaphor anchors the conversation: political fire can warm a free people or burn down the house, and the difference is civic virtue, respect for the Constitution, and a willingness to compromise when the voting ends. Bringing the story forward, we contrast weak formal parties with strong partisanship today. Open primaries and personality-driven campaigns mean looser party control, yet the tone is harsher, the gridlock deeper, and shutdowns longer. Washington’s counsel feels fresh: keep the arguments, keep the energy, but keep the commitment to govern. If you’re drawn to the mechanics of democracy, the origins of party competition, and the guardrails that keep freedom from devouring itself, this conversation offers both historical clarity and practical guidance. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who loves American history, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership Center for American Civics

    22 min

  7. JAN 6

    Federalists Vs. Democratic Republicans

    Forget today’s party machinery. We go back to the 1790s, when “party” meant faction, suspicion, and heated pamphlets rather than primaries and platforms. With constitutional law scholar Dr. Sean Beienberg, we trace how Federalists and Democratic Republicans sparred over the meaning of the Constitution, the reach of federal power, the role of religion in public life, and which European power the young republic should trust. We unpack the Federalist vision shaped by Alexander Hamilton: a commercial republic anchored by the Bank of the United States, credible public credit, and strategic support for institutions that stabilized civic life. You’ll hear why many Federalists backed state-established churches, preferred Britain as France’s revolution veered into anti-institutional fury, and saw national strength as essential to economic growth. Then we pivot to the Jeffersonian response: strict construction of enumerated powers, deep skepticism of broad “necessary and proper” claims, and a belief that the bank served entrenched elites rather than ordinary citizens. Madison’s rapid move into Jefferson’s camp comes into focus as a defense of federalism, states’ rights, and a narrower reading of the general welfare power. The story isn’t static. We follow shifting foreign policy—quasi-war with France, embargoes aimed at Britain, and the path to the War of 1812—and show how those choices reshaped domestic alliances. Inside the judiciary fight, we highlight the surprising coalition of moderates who protected judicial independence by resisting partisan impeachments, a decision that preserved the court’s legitimacy. By the end, you’ll see why the Federalist Party declined and how many of its institutional ideas were quietly absorbed into American governance, leaving a legacy that still frames debates over national power, economic policy, and the place of religion in public life. If you enjoy clear, spirited history that connects founding-era choices to today’s constitutional and policy debates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more curious listeners find us. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership Center for American Civics

    13 min

  8. JAN 5

    Reading Washington’s Farewell Address

    What if the most important presidential “speech” was never meant to be spoken? We sit down with Samantha Snyder, research librarian at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon, to explore why Washington printed his Farewell Address, how he shaped it with counsel from his circle, and what the text reveals about humility, unity, and the burdens of being first. Samantha pulls back the curtain on the archive: the tactile power of handwriting, the value of drafts and marginal notes, and the very human Washington who joked, worried, and revised. We trace the document’s unusual path to the public—straight to a newspaper—and unpack how that choice amplified ideas beyond elite rooms long before radio or television. Along the way, we tackle authorship and influence, comparing Washington’s plainer cadence to Hamilton’s flash and Madison’s architecture, and we examine why the Farewell was later read aloud annually despite being crafted for the page. We also widen the cast. Elizabeth Willing Powell emerges as a consequential voice who urged Washington to continue when he wavered, part of a network of women who hosted salons, shaped opinion, and pushed back on dismissive men. From Martha Washington’s choice to burn private letters to the mid‑Civil War tradition of reading the Farewell, we see how privacy, memory, and nation‑building intertwine. The overlooked lesson that hits hardest today: Washington’s apology and open admission of imperfection—leadership grounded in humility rather than performance. If you’re curious about early American history, women’s political influence, and how primary sources can reset our civic compass, this conversation will recharge your perspective. Dive in, then read the Farewell for yourself and join us in practicing curiosity and humility as we head toward America 250. If you enjoyed the episode, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help others find these stories. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership Center for American Civics

    32 min
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About

What do you really know about American government, the Constitution, and your rights as a citizen? Civics in a Year is a fast-paced podcast series that delivers essential civic knowledge in just 10 minutes per episode. Over the course of a year, we’ll explore 250 key questions—from the founding documents and branches of government to civil liberties, elections, and public participation. Rooted in the Civic Literacy Curriculum from the Center for American Civics at Arizona State University, this series is a collaborative project supported by the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. Each episode is designed to spark curiosity, strengthen constitutional understanding, and encourage active citizenship. Whether you're a student, educator, or lifelong learner, Civics in a Year will guide you through the building blocks of American democracy—one question at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    The Center for American Civics
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    135
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Civics In A Year
  • Show Website
    Civics In A Year