The Peace of Westphalia of 1648 ended the Thirty Years' War and started what we think of as modern nation-states. Listen to today's episode for more!

Center for Civic Education

The Protestant Reformation led to the establishment of new churches that were separate and apart from the Roman Catholic Church. Some secular political leaders saw the religious reform movement as a chance to break away from the political authority of the Holy Roman Empire.

Center for Civic Education

The Protestant Reformation was a movement to reform the Roman Catholic Church that began in the early 1500s in Europe. It was a powerful stimulus to modern ideas about the role of individuals in the Church and the state. Listen to today???s episode to learn more!

Center for Civic Education

Renaissance is the period in European history when society moved out of the dark ages toward a recognition of the rights of individuals. Learn more about this period and how it influenced the start of the Reformation in today's episode!

Center for Civic Education

Medieval European society featured social classes that were hierarchical. There was no equality among them and a person generally could not move between social classes, creating a very stratified society. Learn more about this society in today's episode!

Center for Civic Education

The Declaration of Independence, which reflects Locke's view of natural rights, states that people consent to government to protect certain natural rights, identified in the Declaration as inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Center for Civic Education

With the upheaval caused by war and revolution in seventeenth-century Europe, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke believed that political philosophy needed a new start. Learn more in today's episode!

Center for Civic Education

The seventeenth century was a period of revolution and civil war in Europe. One area of contention was the divine right of kings. We explore more about natural rights philosophy in today's episode!

Center for Civic Education

Civic virtue was and continues to be an important concept that American Founders drew upon from classical republicanism. We explore this concept and related aspects in today's episode!

Center for Civic Education

The Roman Republic inspired and informed the American Founders' own thinking about government. Learn more in today's episode!

Center for Civic Education