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In the months of
August and September,
our SIRS solutions spotlight
several timely topics
from their unique perspectives.
SIRS Knowledge Source®
Promoting the education and awareness of the history and tenets of the U.S. Constitution.
Following the Revolutionary War, the United States of America was in need of a strong national government. The eight-year struggle for independence had weakened states' abilities to enforce laws, collect taxes, pay debts, negotiate power and regulate trade.
So in 1787, the new country's political leaders met at a constitutional convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to amend the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first governing document. But rather than revise the existing document, the delegates decided to draft a new one.
What emerged was the Constitution of the United States, a landmark text that outlines the fundamental principles of U.S. government at both the national and state levels.
On September 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 delegates from 12 states. That day is now celebrated each year as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and the week of September 17 is annually proclaimed as Constitution Week.
Explore the history, principles and impact of the U.S. Constitution and learn about the responsibilities of citizenship in the SKS Spotlight of the Month honoring Constitution Week. Articles include:
ARTICLES
1. Candor & Civility
2. The Invasion of America
3. New Type of War Brings New Interpretations of the Constitution
4. Citizenship Day/Constitution Week
5. 'Because I Said So'
WEB SITE
Constitution of the United States: A History
Read more articles from our Spotlights by logging on to our SIRS Knowledge Source® feature page. Note that the new month's content will not appear until the first of the new month.
SIRS Discoverer®
What do microwaves, popsicles, Teflon, telescopes, and sticky notes have in common?
They are all inventions! Inventions come in all shapes and sizes, and impact daily life in many ways. For example, Scotch tape and automatic doors made life easier, but antiseptics and airplanes transformed society.
The stories behind inventions vary as much as the inventions themselves. Some inventions, such as penicillin and waterproof paper, are results of accidental discoveries. Other inventions, including the steam engine, relied on discoveries that preceded it. Still others have roots in years of research, trials, and errors. Whatever the process and final result, the act of inventing is a tribute to creativity and imagination.
In honor of the 10th annual National Inventors' Month, SIRS Discoverer celebrates notable inventors and their inventions. Articles and websites include:
ARTICLES
1. Coolest Inventions of 2007
2. Kid Inventors Get Creative with Bubble Wrap
3. The Music Man
4. Who Invented the Automobile?
5. Alfred Nobel
WEB SITE
Innovative Lives of Inventors
Read more
articles from the Spotlight of the Month by logging on to SIRS Discoverer®.
Monthly Events/Holidays
- Women's Equality Day (8.26)
"In 1971, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution designating August 26th Women's Equality Day. The day commemorates the passage of the 19th amendment to the Constitution, allowing women the right to vote. The fight for suffrage was a nearly 100 year battle in our country. By celebrating Women's Equality Day we are reminded not only of the accomplishments of the past, but also of the importance of continued efforts in the fight for equality." (UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA)
Spotlight of the Month topics are selected mainly from
Chase's Calendar of Events. Articles are also accessible within the main database and remain in our SIRS newsletter archives for one year.
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