Built to Last
In this last episode, Sagal travels to Iceland, where after the country’s economic collapse, leaders decided to create a new constitution, looking to the U.S. Constitution for inspiration. This prompts Sagal to consider why our own founding document has lasted more than 225 years.
Episodes
-
Built to Last
S1 E4 - 52m 40s
In this last episode, Sagal travels to Iceland, where after the country’s economic collapse, leaders decided to create a new constitution, looking to the U.S. Constitution for inspiration. This prompts Sagal to consider why our own founding document has lasted more than 225 years.
-
Created Equal
S1 E3 - 53m 11s
The high ideals of the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal” didn’t make it into the Constitution in 1787. It took three-quarters of a century, and a bloody civil war, before the Fourteenth Amendment of 1868 made equality a constitutional right and gave the federal government the power to enforce it.
-
It's a Free Country
S1 E2 - 53m 10s
Ask Americans what the Constitution’s most important feature is and most will say it’s the guarantees of liberty enshrined in the Bill of Rights. In this episode, Sagal explores the history of the Bill of Rights and addresses several stories — ripped from the headlines — involving freedom of speech, freedom of religion and right to privacy.
-
A More Perfect Union
S1 E1 - 53m 10s
Breathing new life into the traditional civics lesson, Peter Sagal (host of NPR’s “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me”) travels across the country on a Harley Davidson to find out where the U.S. Constitution lives, how it works and how it doesn’t; how it unites us as a nation and how it has nearly torn us apart.
Extras + Features
-
Where Should Free Speech End?
S1 - 9m 31s
Where should the right to free speech end? Peter Sagal explores what the first amendment means.
-
Constitution USA with Peter Sagal Extended Preview
S1 - 4m 30s
Breathing new life into the traditional civics lesson, Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s "Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!", travels across the country to find out where the U.S. Constitution lives, how it works and how it doesn’t, how it unites us as a nation, and how it has nearly torn us apart.
-
Philadelphia and the Constitutional Convention
S1 - 5m 56s
Historian Richard Beeman explains the issues facing the creation of a new goverment.
-
Right to a Fair Trial
S1 - 5m 16s
Who ensures your rights are protected? Learn how the Clarence Gideon case impacted the right to a fair trial. What did Gideon do to make sure the 6th amendment was protecting him?
-
Rights of Privacy in the bedroom or any room.
S1 - 3m 26s
Learn more about the rights of privacy and how the Constitution plays a role.
-
CONSTITUTION USA Trailer
S1 - 5m 23s
Hit the road with Peter Sagal for a look at CONSTITUTION USA.
-
Separate but NOT Equal
S1 - 4m 28s
Visit Little Rock Central High School and learn how the federal government helped integration.
-
Rights are Changing?
S1 - 2m 14s
Akhil Amar explains why the definition of rights seem to change over time.
-
The Framers and Slavery
S1 - 2m 47s
In this clip, Stanford University professor and historian Jack Rakove discusses how the framers of the Constitution could have allowed slavery to remain a part of the country, even as they wrote about the merits of liberty.
-
Constitutional Battle Ground State
S1 - 3m 45s
Visit Harborside Health Center in Oakland, CA where the state rights and federal law are in conflict.
-
It’s a Free Country: Know Your Rights!
S1 - 5m 11s
Richard Beeman explains the Bill of Rights and where it came from.
-
Do the Children of Illegal Immigrants Have the Right Public
S1 - 3m 52s
Do the Children of Illegal Immigrants Have the Right to Public Education?
WETA Passport
Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.
Similar Shows
![Big Ben: Saving the World's Most Famous Clock: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2023/09/23/187637-4hkitXJ-show-poster2x3-H6GPZyM.jpg?itok=mQyp_nIh)
![Olympic Pride, American Prejudice: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/06/28/307796-QfoM1Uf-show-poster2x3-HfW7UJu.jpg?itok=Htk9Z8MY)
![In Their Own Words: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/3711-UKfVP4C-show-poster2x3-2AJ5K19.jpg?itok=PznPdQAF)
In Their Own Words
History
![Two Wars | The Road to Integration: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/283594-zAOzXSU-show-poster2x3-d01ZHcN.jpg?itok=m9kGDLEm)
![The Ghost Army: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/07/01/301659-Fy19wHY-show-poster2x3-juFfWG3.jpg?itok=e_Gion_y)
The Ghost Army
History
![The War: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/1951-jDWbAYV-show-poster2x3-DZ2G1sZ.jpg?itok=BfEd6Vf9)
The War
History
![Kennedy Package: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/03/04/262121-6WkYf0R-show-poster2x3-itrYTml.jpg?itok=XOQiSc_c)
Kennedy Package
History
![Cuba: The Forgotten Revolution: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/07/08/309114-4nPb1YO-show-poster2x3-j4ykXkt.jpg?itok=AoYVfHY6)
Cuba: The Forgotten Revolution
History
![Queen Elizabeth's Secret Agents: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/4592-5NUiYVe-show-poster2x3-ZUL6rdR.jpg?itok=uwBLIcG7)
Queen Elizabeth's Secret Agents
History
![Secrets of the Dead: show-poster2x3](/sites/default/files/styles/230x346/public/pbs_media_manager_images/2024/04/17/2759-3P0eieFDQ03tKgkRJdn4lg.jpg?itok=SITFMA5D)
Secrets of the Dead
History