The Foundations of American Democracy

Peter Levine is a nationally recognized leader in civic learning and youth engagement. He serves as Associate Dean and Lincoln Filene Professor at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University and is a co-chair of Educating for American Democracy.

In his SPI talk, Professor Levine helps students understand the structure and functions of government at the federal, state, and local levels, and he highlights periods when democratic principles were tested.

He discusses landmark cases and civic turning points—including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Brown v. Board of Education, the United Farm Workers boycott, and Watergate—to illustrate how people came together to reinforce core democratic principles of equality, justice, and the rule of law.

Professor Levine also examines the “nuts-and-bolts” skills young people need to participate effectively in civic life—how communities organize, how coalitions form, and how citizens can work together to effect change. He also highlights the skills that support meaningful participation, including listening, debating, respecting opposing viewpoints, and learning from history.

SPI has developed an Over the Moon online pop-up art gallery exhibit for Professor Levine’s recording. See the CALL FOR ARTISTS link below.

Images (l-r): Rosa Parks on a public bus, Montgomery, Alabama; Black residents of Montgomery walking to work during the bus boycott; Martin Luther King, Jr., standing in front of a bus at the conclusion of the bus boycott; Six-year-old Ruby Bridges being escorted by U.S. marshals on her first day at William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, 1960; Farmworkers united in the Delano Grape Strike to demand fair wages and dignity on the job; Front page of The New York Times from Friday, August 9, 1974, announcing President Nixon's resignation.

The Foundations of American Democracy

by Peter Levine

STUDENT PROMPTS

SPI invites students to participate in a new Over the Moon art gallery exhibit inspired by Peter’s SPI recording. Submission guidelines are found by clicking the red banner at the top of the page.

Learning From the Past: Rethinking The Montgomery Bus Boycott

When Democratic Principles Are Tested

RESOURCES

Meet the Framers of the Constitution: National Archives

Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words: Library of Congress

Rosa Parks Papers: Library of Congress

Montgomery Bus Boycott: MLK Jr. Research and Ed Institute, Stanford Univ.

Brown vs. Board of Ed: National Archives

1962: United Farm Workers Union, Library of Congress

Watergate: The Scandal that Brought Down Richard Nixon

Return to All Chroniclers of American History >

1:36

01. Intro to Recording

Peter Levine
5:08

02. The Three Branches

Peter Levine
3:28

03. Civic Involvement

Peter Levine
7:21

04. The Montgomery Bus

Peter Levine
7:13

05. Brown v. Board UFW

Peter Levine
3:56

06. Sustaining Democracy

Peter Levine