We the People: Then and Now
Saturday, June 13
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Free
Saint Peter Community Center, Room 219

Join the League of Women Voters of St. Peter and the Nicollet County Historical Society for an engaging, interactive look at the founding documents that shaped the United States, and the questions they continue to raise today.

Facilitated by Dr. Kate Knutson, Gustavus Adolphus College Political Science Professor, this program will explore the ideas, conflicts, and compromises behind the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Through brief presentations, small group discussions, and interactive activities, participants will consider what these documents say, what they leave unresolved, and how they continue to shape American democracy.

The morning will begin with the historical and philosophical backstory of the American Revolution before moving into a closer look at the Declaration of Independence and the grievances that led the colonies to break from Great Britain. Participants will also learn about the Articles of Confederation, America’s first attempt at a national government, and how its weaknesses helped lead to the creation of the U.S. Constitution.

The session will then turn to the Constitution and Bill of Rights, inviting participants to reflect on the goals named in the Preamble, the rights protected by the first ten amendments, and the ongoing work of democracy. The program will close with a discussion of what comes next, including the strengths of U.S. democracy, the challenges it faces, and what constitutional change might look like.

As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this program offers an opportunity to revisit familiar documents with fresh eyes and to consider how “We the People” has been understood, challenged, and expanded over time.

RSVPs are strongly encouraged.