Civic Literacy Curriculum
Key Primary Sources in American History
Introduction
Primary sources are the foundation of civic literacy. They allow us to encounter American history as it was experienced, argued, and contested by the people who lived it. This section of the Civic Literacy curriculum brings together essential documents, speeches, and texts that have shaped the nation’s political institutions, civic ideals, and ongoing struggles over freedom, equality, and self-government.
By engaging directly with original sources, rather than summaries alone, learners develop the skills of close reading, historical interpretation, and civic reasoning. These materials invite students to grapple with enduring questions about power, responsibility, rights, and the rule of law, while grounding civic understanding in evidence and context. Together, these primary sources offer a shared starting point for informed discussion, democratic participation, and a deeper appreciation of America’s constitutional tradition.
1700s
1800s
Lincoln’s Lyceum Speech- 1838
In 1838, a young Abraham Lincoln stood before the Young Men’s Lyceum in Springfield, Illinois and delivered what would become one of his earliest and most enduring public speeches. Titled “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions,” Lincoln’s Lyceum Address was grounded in real episodes of rising mob violence and civic instability in the young republic. He warned that the survival of American democracy depended not on foreign foes but on the people’s commitment to the rule of law, reasoned judgment, and civic responsibility. Through eloquent reflection on the fragility of self-government, Lincoln challenged his audience — and all future citizens — to safeguard democratic institutions against internal threats and to cultivate the civic habits necessary for a thriving republic.