Handed out to newly minted citizens, The Citizen's Almanac could also be a great resource for civics and social studies classes. Topics are discussed briefly, with some illustrations, and are organized into the following sections:
- Rights and Responsibilities of U.S. Citizens
- Patriotic Anthems and Symbols of the United States, such as The New Colossus (1883) and Flag of the United States of America
- Presidential Historical Speeches, including George Washington's Farewell Address (1796) and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (1863)
- Fundamental Documents of American Democracy, such as the Bill of Rights (1791) and the Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
- Landmark Decisions of the Supreme Court, including Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
- Prominent Foreign-Born Americans—including brief bios of Alexander Hamilton and Albert Einstein, among others.
The Director's introductory message states,
"For more than 200 years, we have been bound by the principles and ideals expressed in our founding documents, but it is up to citizens like you to carry on this legacy for future generations.
...The Citizen’s Almanac contains information on the history, people, and events that have brought us where we are today as a beacon of hope and freedom to the world. We hope the contents of this booklet will serve as a constant reminder of the important rights and responsibilities (of) a U.S. citizen."
This resource is brought to you by the Office of Citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and developed with support from:
- The Center for Civic Education
- The National Endowment for the Humanities
- The National Constitution Center
- The Smithsonian National Museum of American History
