The Declaration of Independence...for 5th Graders
Yes, bad actors may use AI tools to undermine our civic discourse. AND, AI can also help increase civic literacy. Here's one example.
There’s a litany of research out there about how AI might undermine our democracy. It’s a very real concern that warrants popular and scholarly attention. I’m glad many of my colleagues are tackling these issues.
There’s a tremendous dearth of research on how AI can improve civic literacy, spread American values, and increase excitement about our democracy.
With that in mind, here’s a little prompt for all those eager to help their kids, students, and, let’s be honest, some of our friends get a better sense of the meaning of core American texts. It’s not a perfect prompt, so I welcome your feedback. Give it a go!
Share your documents widely! You’ll find the prompt below and a sample output after that (spoiler - it’s the Declaration of Independence for 5th graders).
PROMPT
Goal: translate complex legal documents from America's history into accessible terms for specific audiences while maintaining the key terms and meaning of the underlying document. Foster curiosity among the intended audience to dive deeper into America's history and unique legal system.
Step 1: ask the user to provide the name and date of the document and to submit the document.
Step 2: read the entire document in question.
Step 3: confirm the audience that the user would like to target - offer them a few options (young kids, older kids, pre-teens, teens, college students, a general public audience, etc.). Also note that they can specify an age range of their own.
Step 4: specify if there are any aspects of the document that you are unsure of how to translate.
Step 5: draft the new version.
Include a brief note at the end outlining key concepts tailored to the specific audience. For example, for audiences still in elementary school, you may want to provide a 2-3 sentence overview of natural rights when translating documents from the 1700s and 1800s. Likewise, for audiences in high school, you may want to provide short summaries of abstract, yet foundational principles undergirding the document in question. Be sure to also include recommended areas of further inquiry and aspects of that document that have proven contentious over time.Step 6: flag any issues you had in translating the document that you think the user should be aware of.
Step 7: ask the user if they'd like to translate anything else.
Now here’s an sample:
The Declaration of Independence: A Story of Freedom!
Imagine you and your friends have a ruler who makes all the rules, but those rules are unfair. You feel like you're not being listened to, and you want to be in charge of your own games. That's a bit like what happened a long, long time ago in America!
Back in 1776, the people living in America were ruled by a King who lived far away in Great Britain. They felt like he was making lots of unfair rules, and they wanted to be free and make their own choices. So, some very brave leaders wrote a special letter called the Declaration of Independence.
This letter was like saying, "Dear King, we're breaking up! We want to be our own country!"
Here's what the Declaration of Independence said in simple words:
We Believe in Fairness for Everyone!
Everyone is born equal. No one is better than anyone else just because of who they are.
Everyone has special gifts from their Creator, and these gifts are like superpower rights that no one can take away.
These superpowers include the right to Life (to be safe and alive), Liberty (to be free and make your own choices), and the Pursuit of Happiness (to try and find joy in your life).
Who Should Make the Rules?
Governments are started to make sure these superpower rights are safe.
But here's the super important part: governments get their power from the people they rule. This means the people should agree to the rules the government makes.
If a government stops protecting these rights, and starts acting unfair, the people have a right to change it or even start a new one! It's like changing the rules of a game if they're not fair anymore.
It's good to be careful and not change things too quickly, but if a ruler keeps doing bad things over and over, and it's clear they just want to be a bossy tyrant, then it's not just a right, it's a duty to say "NO!" and get a new government.
Why We Said Goodbye to the King:
The King of Great Britain had been doing lots of unfair things. He was like a big bully.
He wouldn't let them make good laws.
He made judges do what he wanted, not what was fair.
He sent lots of soldiers to America and made people house them.
He taxed them without asking if it was okay.
He stopped their trade with other countries.
He wouldn't let them have trials with juries, which is like a fair game.
He even started wars against them!
Our Big Decision!
The American leaders tried to talk to the King and their British friends, but they wouldn't listen.
So, the leaders decided it was time. They bravely declared that the American colonies were now Free and Independent States!
This meant they were their own country, and they could make their own rules, like choosing to go to war, make peace, or trade with others.
And to make this happen, they promised to help each other with everything they had – their lives, their money, and their honor.
Key Concepts:
Natural Rights: This is a big idea in the Declaration! It means that every single person has special, basic rights just because they are human. These rights include Life (being safe), Liberty (being free to choose), and the Pursuit of Happiness (being allowed to find joy). No government or king can take these away because you are born with them!
Consent of the Governed: This means that the government gets its power from the people it rules. It's like when you and your friends decide on the rules for a game together – everyone has to agree for the rules to be fair. If the people don't agree, the government isn't fair.
Right to Revolution: If a government becomes really unfair and doesn't protect the people's rights, the people have a right to change that government or even start a new one. It's a serious step, but it's there to protect their freedom and happiness.
Recommended Areas for Further Inquiry & Contentious Aspects:
Who was "all men"? When the Declaration says "all men are created equal," it was a very big idea for its time. But it didn't mean everyone back then. It mainly meant white men who owned property. Women, enslaved people, and Native Americans were not included in the same way. This is a very important part of American history to learn about – how we've worked over time to try and make that promise of equality true for everyone.
The "Merciless Indian Savages" Phrase: The Declaration includes a line about "merciless Indian Savages." This is a very mean and unfair way to talk about Native Americans, who had lived on this land for thousands of years. It shows how people at that time often thought about Native Americans and how the colonists were fighting against them. It's a reminder that even important historical documents can contain language that is hurtful and wrong by today's standards. This phrase is a difficult part of the Declaration because it goes against the idea of "all men are created equal" and highlights the struggles and injustices Native Americans faced as the United States was formed.