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The Declaration and Constitution for Kids

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The Declaration and Constitution for Kids

by Ryan Semerau

Ages 10–14CivicsAmerican History

A guided reading of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution for kids — text-first, with plain-language explanations and a built-in tutor for every section.

Contents

15 chapters · 75 lessons · first 6 free

1 · How to Read These Documents (Text-First)

  • 1.1 · Primary TextFree
  • 1.2 · How to Annotate a SentenceFree
  • 1.3 · Key Vocabulary You Will See Again and AgainFree
  • 1.4 · The Only History You Need (For Now)Free
  • Chapter 1 TestFree

2 · Declaration — Why It Was Written + Big Ideas (Text)

  • 2.1 · What the Declaration Is DoingFree
  • 2.2 · “Self-Evident Truths”🔒
  • 2.3 · Rights + The Purpose of Government🔒
  • 2.4 · Consent of the Governed🔒
  • Chapter 2 Test🔒

3 · Declaration — When People May Change a Government (Text)

  • 3.1 · “Whenever… it is the Right…”🔒
  • 3.2 · “Prudence” (Being Careful)🔒
  • 3.3 · “A Long Train of Abuses”🔒
  • 3.4 · Spot the Argument (Claim → Proof → Conclusion)🔒
  • Chapter 3 Test🔒

4 · Declaration — The List of Abuses + Attempts at Redress (Text)

  • 4.1 · Grievances About Lawmaking🔒
  • 4.2 · Grievances About Courts and Justice🔒
  • 4.3 · Grievances About Force and the Military🔒
  • 4.4 · Attempts at Redress (Asking for Fixes)🔒
  • Chapter 4 Test🔒

5 · Declaration — Independence + Risk (Text)

  • 5.1 · Declaring Independence🔒
  • 5.2 · Powers of Independent States🔒
  • 5.3 · Risk and “Treason”🔒
  • 5.4 · The Final Pledge🔒
  • Chapter 5 Test🔒

6 · From the First System to the Constitution (Minimal Context)

  • 6.1 · The Articles of Confederation (A First Try)🔒
  • 6.2 · Why a Convention Happened🔒
  • 6.3 · What a Constitution Is🔒
  • 6.4 · Rule of Law🔒
  • Chapter 6 Test🔒

7 · Constitution — Preamble and the Big Blueprint (Text)

  • 7.1 · “We the People”🔒
  • 7.2 · The Goals of the Preamble🔒
  • 7.3 · Branches and Separation of Powers🔒
  • 7.4 · Limited and Enumerated Powers🔒
  • Chapter 7 Test🔒

8 · Article I — Congress (Structure) (Text)

  • 8.1 · The House of Representatives🔒
  • 8.2 · The Senate🔒
  • 8.3 · How a Bill Becomes a Law🔒
  • 8.4 · Checks: Veto and Impeachment Basics🔒
  • Chapter 8 Test🔒

9 · Article I — Congress (Powers and Limits) (Text)

  • 9.1 · Congress’s Enumerated Powers🔒
  • 9.2 · Taxes and Spending🔒
  • 9.3 · Commerce, War, and Other Powers🔒
  • 9.4 · Limits on Congress🔒
  • Chapter 9 Test🔒

10 · Article II — The Presidency (Text)

  • 10.1 · Executive Power🔒
  • 10.2 · Commander in Chief, Treaties, Appointments🔒
  • 10.3 · Electing a President (Text Basics)🔒
  • 10.4 · Removal and Accountability🔒
  • Chapter 10 Test🔒

11 · Article III — The Judiciary (Text)

  • 11.1 · Judicial Power and Courts🔒
  • 11.2 · Types of Cases🔒
  • 11.3 · Trials and Treason🔒
  • 11.4 · Courts and the Rule of Law🔒
  • Chapter 11 Test🔒

12 · Articles IV–VII (States, Changes, Supremacy, Ratification) (Text)

  • 12.1 · Article IV: States Working Together🔒
  • 12.2 · Article V: Changing the Constitution🔒
  • 12.3 · Article VI: Supremacy and Oaths🔒
  • 12.4 · Article VII: Ratification🔒
  • Chapter 12 Test🔒

13 · Bill of Rights — Amendments 1–4 (Text)

  • 13.1 · First Amendment🔒
  • 13.2 · Second and Third Amendments🔒
  • 13.3 · Fourth Amendment🔒
  • 13.4 · Practice: Scenarios for Amendments 1–4🔒
  • Chapter 13 Test🔒

14 · Bill of Rights — Amendments 5–10 (Text)

  • 14.1 · Fifth Amendment🔒
  • 14.2 · Sixth Amendment🔒
  • 14.3 · Seventh and Eighth Amendments🔒
  • 14.4 · Ninth and Tenth Amendments🔒
  • Chapter 14 Test🔒

15 · Later Amendments — Amendments 11–27 (Text)

  • 15.1 · Government Structure and Operations (11, 16, 25, 27)🔒
  • 15.2 · Elections and Terms (12, 17, 20, 22, 23)🔒
  • 15.3 · Voting and Equality (13, 14, 15, 19, 24, 26)🔒
  • 15.4 · Prohibition and Repeal (18 and 21)🔒
  • Chapter 15 Test🔒

What you'll learn

  • ✓Why the Declaration was written and what its big ideas are
  • ✓How the Articles of Confederation failed and why we needed the Constitution
  • ✓The structure of Congress, the Presidency, and the Courts
  • ✓What's in the Bill of Rights and what each amendment protects
  • ✓How the later amendments changed who counts as a citizen

How to use this workbook

15 chapters, designed for one chapter per week. Each chapter has 4 short lessons covering the actual text of the documents. Read, ask the tutor whatever's unclear, then answer the questions in your own words.

Prerequisites

Reading at roughly a 5th-grade level. No prior civics knowledge required.