History

Constitution USA with Peter Sagal

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.

Built to Last

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.

Episodes

  • Built to Last: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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

  • Right to a Fair Trial: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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?

  • The Framers and Slavery: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    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.

  • Separate but NOT Equal: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Separate but NOT Equal

    S1 - 4m 28s

    Visit Little Rock Central High School and learn how the federal government helped integration.

  • Rights are Changing?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Rights are Changing?

    S1 - 2m 14s

    Akhil Amar explains why the definition of rights seem to change over time.

  • Is the Constitution to blame for gridlock?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Is the Constitution to blame for gridlock?

    S1 - 2m 26s

    In this clip, Sandy Levinson, a constitutional law and legal scholar, talks about why he believes the Constitution is largely responsible for government gridlock.

  • The Long View: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Long View

    S1 - 3m 6s

    Historians Richard Beeman and Akhil Amar explain how the Constitution's ability to change.

  • Equal Protection - part I: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Equal Protection…part I

    S1 - 3m 14s

    Does the 14th Amendment protect the right to same sex marriage? Legal scholar Robert George explains his thoughts.

  • Too Much Power: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Too Much Power

    S1 - 3m 52s

    Learn about how Watergate tested the Constitution's system to balance power.

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