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Patriot Lessons: American History and Civics (Constitution, Declaration of Independence, etc.)

Patriot Lessons: American History and Civics (Constitution, Declaration of Independence, etc.)

By: Michael Warren and Patriot Week Foundation
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Learn about American History, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, & American holidays. Gain insights about our Founding First Principles (the rule of law, unalienable rights, the Social Compact, equality, limited government, and revolution); Founding Fathers (such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams) and other great patriots (such as Martin Luther King Jr, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton); key documents and speeches; and flags and other symbols of America. Nonpartisan podcast of Patriot Week hosted by Judge Michael Warren.Michael Warren and Patriot Week Foundation World
Episodes
  • Juneteenth — Origins, History & Meaning
    Jun 19 2026

    Commemorate Juneteenth and reflect on its origins, history, meaning, and traditions.

    Learn about the prevalence and acceptance of slavery in world history (such as in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Athens, Rome, Britain, England, and Europe) and its development in the colonies and the United States. Examine the cruel and barbaric slave trade and Middle Passage across the ocean from first hand accounts.

    Explore how some Founding Fathers such as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton opposed slavery, and George Washington emancipated his slaves. Learn how Thomas Jefferson trembled for the future of the country because of slavery, and how he banned slavery in the Northwest Territory and signed the law banning the slave trade in America.

    Learn how the opposition to slavery led to sharp divisions in the country, eventually exploding into the Civil War.

    Review how President Abraham Lincoln shifted his original position and supported the emancipation of the slaves as a wartime measure, and implemented emancipation through the first and final Emancipation Proclamations. Learn how the final Emancipation Proclamation only freed those enslaved by the Confederate States of America.

    Learn how many enslaved first learned of the Emancipation Proclamation for the first time on June 19, 1865 by virtue of Union General Gordan Granger General's Order No. 3 issued in Galveston, Texas after the Union army occupies the city, but only after the 25th Army Corps — primarily composed of African American Union troops — liberate Galveston.


    Review how slavery was finally abolished through the ratification of the 13th Amendment and treaties with Native American tribes (who held slaves) such as the Cherokee, Creek, and Chickasaw.

    Explore how June 19 becomes a new celebration - called Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, and finally Juneteenth - and the celebration spread across the nation, and was finally recognized as a federal holiday in the wake of the George Floyd killing in 2021.

    Listen to several Juneteenth Presidential Proclamations by Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.

    Focus on how commercialism is starting to creep into the Juneteenth celebrations.

    Highlights include Christina Snyder’s book Slavery in Indian Country, The Changing Face of Captivity in Early America, Olaudah Equiano (Gustavus Vassa), the Great Awakening, chattel slavery, Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, Eli Whitney & the cotton gin, Missouri Compromise, Bleeding Kansas, Lincoln Douglas debates, "A House Divided" Abraham Lincoln speech, presidential election of 1860, Declaration of Independence, abolitionists, Fort Sumter, Civil War, Grand Army of the Republic, Horace Greeley, Gideon Wells, William Seward, Antietam, Gettysburg Address, Lincoln First Inaurual Address, Lincoln Second Inaugural Address, Richard Hofstadlter's American Political Tradition, bill of lading, General Robert E. Lee, Appotomattox Court House, CSS Shenandoah, Union General Gordan Granger General Order No. 3, and much more.

    To learn more about America & Patriot Week, visit www.PatriotWeek.org. Our resources include videos, a TV series, blogs, lesson plans, and more.

    Check out Judge Michael Warren's new book, The Revolutionary Words that Forged America - The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence (Republic Books 2026).

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    54 mins
  • The Revolutionary Words that Forged America-The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence
    May 27 2026

    Judge Michael Warren’s book, the Declaration of Independence, is available on Amazon at:

    https://a.co/d/0iuhtrzx


    The Declaration of Independence forever transforms our

    understanding of equality, liberty, and the proper role of

    government. Its revolutionary philosophical framework is

    the bedrock foundation of the Constitution and our system

    of self-government. Yet America’s most important

    document is largely forgotten, misunderstood, and even

    attacked—fueling a crisis in the American spirit that

    threatens the nation’s very survival.


    Marking its 250th anniversary, in The Revolutionary Words

    that Forged America, Judge Michael Warren provides a

    line-by-line (often word-by-word) analysis of America’s

    charter—its drafting, historical circumstances, underlying

    philosophy, and legal force. He contrasts the Founders’

    beliefs and aspirations with their opposites throughout

    world history—including communism, fascism, royal

    despotism, dictatorships, and caste societies.

    This book also provides a sorely needed review and

    thorough analysis of the Declaration’s twenty-eight

    grievances. Without the grievances, the rest of the

    Declaration is just a beautiful, empty shell of wonderful

    poetry. Americans are rebelling against a bloody tyranny,

    and the grievances explain why. Many of the issues that

    confront the Founders in 1776 echo throughout the ages—

    including today.

    This deep and illuminating review paves the way for

    restoring America’s First Principles of the rule of law,

    unalienable rights, limited government, the Social

    Compact, equality, and the right to alter or abolish

    oppressive government. The time has come to reclaim the

    Declaration and save the very idea of America—and this is

    the definitive guide.


    Endorsements


    “As Judge Warren notes in this excellent treatise on America’s beginnings, the greatest threat to our country’s future comes from within. Too many Americans have lost touch with the vision and

    principles our Founding Fathers laid out in the Declaration of Independence. After 250 years, it’s more important than ever. This should be a must-read for every American.”

    ––Ingrid Jacques, National Opinion Columnist, USA Today


    “By reacquainting Americans with the Declaration of Independence, Judge Warren explains the ‘foundation of our freedoms’ and why America is truly the ‘last best hope on Earth.’ Revolutionary Words is both magisterial and accessible; timely

    and enduring; written for the scholar and for the citizen; and brings new life to the Declaration and new perspective to the Constitution. A remarkable revisitation of our nation’s heritage.”

    ––Stephen Markman, Retired Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court


    “Many authors have sought to interpret the Declaration of Independence. Most have attempted to do so by analyzing its themes and values. Only a few have addressed every word in text. None has done so with the clarity, vision, historical appreciation, and judicial perspective of Judge Michael Warren. True to the first principles of natural rights and limited government, Judge Warren has given us a standard against which other works will now be measured; and soon to be a regarded as a classic.”

    ––Judge Andrew P. Napolitano, TV Commentator, and New York


    Judge Michael Warren’s book, the Declaration of Independence, is available on Amazon at:

    https://a.co/d/0iuhtrzx


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    7 mins
  • Memorial Day — Origins, History & Meaning
    May 24 2026

    We commemorate the brave sacrifices of our fallen soldiers because they gave their last full measure of devotion for our country and liberty.


    Learn how Memorial Day started as a tribute to fallen Union soldiers in the Civil War. It started through many local efforts and became a national, uniform celebration with the leadership of General Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic.

    Explore how over time, Memorial Day was the setting for brilliant speeches and commemorations, and changed to include all war dead during World War I.


    Review how more recently, a 1 minute silent Moment of Remembrance has been added to Memorial Day, which occurs at 3:00 pm local time.


    The future of our country and freedom rests with us to carry on their supreme sacrifices, and to failure to remember that could lead to our doom.


    Highlights include statistics about America’s war dead, Pericles, Thucydides, Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address, David Wills, Edward Everett, Patriot Week, Leah Warren, Arlington National Cemetary, Major General John Logan, the Grand Army of the Republic, Logan’s General Order No. 11, President James Garfield, Frederick Douglass, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Decoration Day, John McCrae, We Shall Not Sleep, a/k/a In Flanders Fields, Mania Michael, Ladies Home Journal, Armistice Day, veterans Day, Uniform Monday Holiday Act, National Moment of Remembrance Act, Carmella LaSpanda, President Bill Clinton, and many others.


    To learn more about America & Patriot Week, visit www.PatriotWeek.org. Our resources include videos, a TV series, blogs, lesson plans, and more.


    Check out Judge Michael Warren’s new book The Revolutionary Words that Forged America - The Definitive Guide to the Declaration of Independence (Republic Books 2026) and America's Survival Guide, How to Stop America's Impending Suicide by Reclaiming Our First Principles and History at amazon, or other major on-line retailers.


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    44 mins
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