Vital Theme and Narrative:
Values, Beliefs, Political Ideas, and Institutions

Five subthemes shape the broad theme of Values, Beliefs, Political Ideas, and Institutions. These five subthemes are:

  • The influence of religion(s)/philosophy/ideologies in American society.
  • The tensions between freedom and security in American society.
  • The tensions between liberty and equality in American society.
  • The tensions between diversity and commonality in American society.
  • The interplay between moral values and political ideas in making decisions by the American Colonial/Revolutionary/Constitutional generation of leaders.


The five subthemes represent recurring issues in American history. Teacher Research Teams identify a core document (First-Order) and Second-/and Third-Order documents that exemplify issues/subthemes.

Consult the following link for exemplar lessons:

Doing History Research Team Kits

 

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Last updated on February 26, 2003

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