On this day in 1741, Patriot hero turned traitor Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Connecticut. During the early years of the American Revolution, he was hailed as a brilliant tactician for his actions to fend off the British invasion of Canada. After being passed over several times for promotion and clashing with senior officers, […]
Happy National Hat Day! 🎩🧢👒 Hats are nothing new, but the United States has produced some unique pieces of headgear throughout its history, including the cowboy hat (inspired by Mexican sombreros), the coonskin cap (made famous by Davey Crockett), and even the cheesehead (worn by Green Bay Packers fans). 🤠🧀 Did you know? During the […]
On this day in 1929, minister and activist leader Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. A figurehead of the American civil rights movement, he was a proponent of civil disobedience and non-violent protest. Persevering despite death threats, abuse, and arrest, he rose to the national stage, directing the 1963 March on Washington […]
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! A figurehead of the American civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. was a proponent of civil disobedience and non-violent protest. Persevering despite death threats, abuse, and arrest, he rose to the national stage, directing the 1963 March on Washington (where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” […]
On this day in 1786, Virginia enacted the Statute for Religious Freedom. The statute disestablished the Church of England as Virginia’s official state-supported religion and implemented freedom of worship. 🙏 ✝️ 🙏 ☪️ 🙏 ✡️ 🙏 Authored by Thomas Jefferson, the statute was an important precursor to the protection of religious liberty and separation of […]
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Did you know? It took over 15 years for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to come into being. In the year after King’s death, Congressman John Conyers Jr. introduced legislation to create the federal holiday. Three years later, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference also presented Congress with a petition […]
On January 16, 2023, the Politics Department at Ave Maria University will host William McCormick, SJ to deliver a lecture on, "Educating a Tyrant: Aquinas Against the Myths of Uncivil Religion." Monday, January 16, 2023 • 6:00 PM EDT Ave Maria University William McCormick received his doctorate in political theory from the University […]
On January 17, 1706, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Franklin was instrumental in the formation of the new United States – he played key roles at the Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and as a diplomat to France. 🇫🇷🇺🇸 A man of many talents, he didn’t just distinguish himself in the […]
It’s National Popcorn Day! 🍿🍿🍿 Popcorn originated in the Americas and was first cultivated thousands of years ago – some of the earliest kernels were found in Peru and date back 6,700 years (!) 🌽🌽🌽 Soon, European settlers loved popcorn just as much as their Native American neighbors. Mass consumption of popcorn didn’t begin until […]
On this day in 1809, American suspense and horror writer Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Poe’s short stories and poems, including such classics as “The Raven”, “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado”, are still widely read and admired for their macabre themes and mysterious story-telling. Did you know? Poe was […]
Today is the Lunar New Year! Based on the lunar calendar, it is an important holiday for many cultures, particularly those of East Asia. Revelers take time to celebrate new beginnings and reflect on the qualities of the year’s assigned zodiac animal. 2023’s animal is the rabbit, which represents calmness, patience, and peace. 🐇🐇🐇 While […]
It’s National Hot Sauce Day! 🌶🌶🌶 Did you know that hot sauce has deep American roots? Chilis were domesticated in present-day Mexico around 5000 B.C. The Aztecs and Mayans combined chili peppers with water to make an early hot sauce. With increased trade and colonialism in the 1500s, chilis soon spread across the world. Though […]
On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the United States to earn a medical doctorate. Despite sexism, she succeeded not only in completing her coursework, but founding a hospital and training nurses during the Civil War. 🩹🩺💉 Did you know? Blackwell was inspired to pursue the medical profession after a dying […]
On this day in 1737, founding father, successful merchant, and first signer of the Declaration of Independence John Hancock was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. Before the Revolution, Hancock was one of the wealthiest men in New England and used his money and influence to forward the movement for American independence. He’s perhaps best known for […]
On January 24, 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill near Coloma, California, triggering the California Gold Rush. As news of the discovery spread, thousands of would-be gold miners poured into California looking to strike it rich. 💰💰💰 Though many were unlucky in mining, the population boom helped propel California to statehood. Did you know? […]
Happy National Peanut Butter Day! 🥜 🥜 🥜 This uniquely American treat was first patented in the late 1800s, as Canadian Marcellus Gilmore Edson and American John Harvey Kellogg experimented with creating pastes out of roasted and raw peanuts. Kellogg’s easily digested paste was used as a healthy food for sanitarium patients. As a result […]
On January 26, 1837, Michigan was admitted to the Union as our 26th state. The state has the most coastline on the Great Lakes and is bordered by Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Erie. The state (and more specifically, its largest city, Detroit) are well known as the capital of the American auto industry – […]
On this day in 1892, Bessie Coleman, the first African-American and Native American woman pilot was born in Atlanta, Texas. Coleman gave speeches, and lessons, and toured across America and Europe, encouraging other women to pursue flight and dazzling crowds with her daring air tricks. 🛩 🛩 🛩 She also publicly stood up against segregation, […]
On January 29, 1861, Kansas was admitted to the Union as our 34th state. Kansas’s statehood came with much controversy – its statehood was proposed under the policy of “popular sovereignty” which meant that the territory’s residents were to vote on the legality of slavery in the new state. With tensions over slavery high nationwide, […]
On this day in 1843, 25th president William McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio. His presidency was notable for an increase in protective tariffs and imperialist policies that led to the annexation of the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Tragically, McKinley was the third president assassinated – an anarchist shot him at the Pan-American Exposition […]
On this day in 1882, 32nd president Franklin D. Roosevelt was born in Hyde Park, New York. His presidency was marked by several momentous historical events, including the Great Depression and the United States’ entry into World War II. Roosevelt also was a prominent progressive and under his guidance, new government programs such as the […]
Happy National Hot Chocolate Day! ☕️☕️☕️Cocoa beans are native to South America and the first known hot chocolate was developed in Mexico by the Aztecs and Mayans. This hot chocolate was very different from what we enjoy today – early recipes included chili pepper and cornmeal and were often served cold, bitter, and frothy. 🌶🌽🍫 […]
On this day in 1752, founding father Gouverneur Morris was born in Morrisania, New York (present-day New York City). Though less famous than other founders, Morris was considered the “Penman of the Constitution,” and is credited with wording the famous preamble, “We the People of the United States of America…” Aside from his key role […]
On February 1, 1901, American poet Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri. Hughes was a leading light of the Harlem Renaissance and his short stories, poems, and novels about the Black American experience are still well-read today, including “I, Too,” “The Weary Blues,” and “Mother to Son.” Did you know? Part of Hughes’ popularity was his […]
Today, the groundhog saw/didn’t see his shadow – six more weeks of winter! Groundhog Day was first officially celebrated on this day in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club still gather in Gobbler’s Knob to lift Phil high in the air and oversee the proceedings in Pennsylvania Dutch. 🎩🎩🎩 Did you know? […]
Today, the groundhog saw his shadow – six more weeks of winter! 🌨🌨🌨 Groundhog Day was first officially celebrated on this day in 1887 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club still gather in Gobbler’s Knob to lift Phil high in the air and oversee the proceedings in Pennsylvania Dutch. So, where did […]
The Tocqueville Lecture Series at Jacksonville State University, a JMC partner program, will hold a hybrid in-person/virtual presentation and Q&A with faculty partner Lee Trepanier on "What is Political Civility Today?": The Tocqueville Lecture Series is excited to host Dr. Lee Trepanier (Samford University). His presentation, "What is Political Civility Today?" highlights some of the […]
On this day in 1870, the 15th Amendment was ratified, giving all American men the right to vote, regardless of race or previous state of servitude. Significantly, this meant that emancipated slaves and other African Americans had all the rights and privileges awarded by the Constitution to every U.S. citizen. The immediate effects of the […]
On February 6, 1788, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution, establishing itself as our 6th state. The state has deep revolutionary roots – Boston was a hotbed of patriot activity leading up to the Revolution and the first battles of the war (those at Lexington and Concord) took place in Massachusetts. Did you know? Massachusetts’ state constitution […]
On this day in 1756, infamous American politician Aaron Burr was born in Newark, New Jersey. Though he may be best-known for his duel with Alexander Hamilton (which proved fatal to Hamilton), Burr was also a Revolutionary War hero and served as vice president in the Jefferson administration, during which time he set a high […]
On February 8, 1820, William Tecumseh Sherman was born in Lancaster, Ohio. A commanding general for the Union Army during the Civil War, Sherman was key to northern victory. His tactics, while effective, were bitterly remembered in the South long after the war – Sherman’s March, a military campaign of total destruction from Atlanta to Savannah, […]
On this day in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was founded by William D. Boyce in Washington, D.C. Boyce was inspired by the Boy Scouts movement in England after reportedly meeting a scout while lost in the streets of London. After guiding Boyce to his destination, the Boy Scout refused compensation for his good […]
On February 8, 2023, the James Wilson Institute and the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin will be holding an interactive webinar with John Mikhail and JMC fellow Jonathan Gienapp on James Wilson and his important contributions to constitutional law. Jonathan Gienapp of Stanford University and John Mikhail of the Georgetown University […]
On this day in 1773, 9th president William Henry Harrison was born in Berkeley, Virginia. He served the shortest term of any president – a mere month – before expiring from pneumonia. Though he didn’t make much impact as president, Harrison was well-known as a general in the War of 1812 and in battles with […]
On February 9, 2023, the John Marshall Project at Boston College, a JMC partner program, will host faculty partner Jeremy Bailey for a discussion of "The Empire of Liberty and the Indigenous Question: Jefferson's Strange Praise of Chief Logan Reconsidered". Thursday, February 9, 2023 • 4:30 PM ET Higgins Hall, 300 • Boston College Click […]
On February 9, 2023, the Matthew J. Ryan Center at Villanova University will host faculty partner Diana Schaub for a discussion of equality in the Constitution. The event is part of the Ryan Center's 2022-23 lecture series on "The Constitution: The Meaning of Equality." Thursday, Feburary 9, 2023 • 4:30 PM EST Driscoll 134 • […]
On February 9, 2023, the Lyceum Program at Clemson University will host Ronald J. Pestritto for a lecture on the administrative state: Dr. Pestritto's lecture will describe the nature of the administrative state’s power as well as its origins in the political thought of the American Progressive Era. Thursday, February 9, 2023 • 5:30 PM […]
On February 9, 2023, the Politics Department at Ave Maria University will host Dr. Joshua Bowman to deliver a lecture on, "Imagination and Environmental Politics". Dr. Bowman plans on discussing the relationship between concepts of nature & politics found in Thoreau and their ambivalent relationship to modern environmental thought. Thursday, February 9, 2023 • 6:00 PM […]
On February 11, 1847, American inventor and businessman Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio. Edison was successful in obtaining a record-breaking 1,093 patents during his lifetime. He most famously invented the first commercially successful light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture camera. 💡🎼 🎥 Did you know? Edison was a poor student as […]
On February 12, 1809, 16th president Abraham Lincoln was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky. We particularly honor Lincoln for his leadership in steering the country through a civil war intact and for taking the necessary steps to end slavery once and for all. Did you know? Lincoln was the first president born outside of the original 13 colonies. […]
On this day in 1809, 16th president Abraham Lincoln was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky. We particularly honor Lincoln for his leadership in steering the country through a civil war intact and for taking the necessary steps to end slavery once and for all. Did you know? Outside of his political prowess, Lincoln was an inventor. […]
On February 13, 1885, First Lady Elizabeth “Bess” Truman was born in Independence, Missouri. Though a private person, she actively served as her husband’s confidante and secretary during his time in the White House. ☎️ 🖊 📁 Did you know? The president wrote over 1,000 letters to Bess between 1910 and 1959. These "Dear Bess" […]
Happy Valentine’s Day! Though this holiday has origins in the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia and as a Christian feast day, it wasn’t until the 17th and 18th centuries that it become popular to mark it by exchanging notes and tokens of affection with friends and lovers. 🥰💗💝🍫 Did you know? The famous conversation heart candies we […]
Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️❤️❤️ Though this holiday has origins in the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia and as a Christian feast day, it wasn’t until the 17th and 18th centuries that it became popular to mark the day by exchanging notes and tokens of affection with friends and lovers. 💋💝🥂💐 Did you know? Handmade cards […]
On October 14, 1994, Saguaro National Park was established in Arizona. The park is home to the giant saguaro – the largest cactus in the United States and arguably the most recognizable symbol of the American West. 🏜🌵🏜🌵🏜 Truly American, saguaros only grow in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, California, and Mexico, where they can […]
On this day in 1820, American activist Susan B. Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts. An icon of the women’s suffrage movement, Anthony founded the National American Woman Suffrage Association with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and helped pave the way for the Nineteenth Amendment. Aside from her activism for women’s rights, Anthony was also a vocal […]
On February 15, 2023, the Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture at Washington College will host Antonio Campbell to give a talk on the foundations and importance of religious freedom in America. Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Washington College Click here to learn more about the Institute >> Antonio Campbell serves as a full time […]
On February 15, 2022, the Tocqueville Forum on Liberal Democracy at Christendom College will be hosting a lecture and seminar on Alexis de Tocqueville with JMC Fellow, Dr. Daniel Mahoney. Daniel Mahoney is professor emeritus at Assumption University. He is an expert on liberalism, communism, and statesmanship. His talk will engage with contemporary debates over […]
On February 15, 2023, the Tufts Program in Political Thought at Tufts University will be hosting Steven Grosby for a lecture on Nationalism in World History. Wednesday, February 15, 2023 • 5:30 PM ET Tisch Library, Room 304 • Tufts University Click here to learn more >> Steven Grosby is Professor Emeritus […]
On February 15, 2023, the Department of Political Science at Texas State University will host faculty partner Diana Schaub for the Discourse in Democracy series. Dr. Schuab will give a lecture on "The Second Inaugural: Lincoln's Rhetoric of Reconciliation". Wednesday, February 15, 2023 • 7:00 PM CT Alkek Theater • Texas State University Free […]
On February 16, 2023, the Center for Constitutional Liberty at Benedictine College will host Ross Douthat for a discussion of Christian Politics in a De-Christianizing Society. Join the Center for Constitutional Liberty as they host New York Times columnist Ross Douthat. Mr. Douthat is an opinion columnist who writes on politics, religion, moral values, and […]
On February 18, 1735, the first opera in America was performed in Charleston, South Carolina. So what was it? Flora, or Hob in the Well, a ballad opera. Ballad operas were a fairly new genre at the time and featured farce and popular songs with lyrics changed to fit the story. 🎼 🎭 🎟 In […]
On this day in 1885, Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was first published in the United States. The book, still widely-read for its portrayal of race relations, focuses on the relationship between a young boy, Huckleberry Finn, and an escaped slave, Jim. Though a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, it far surpassed […]
On February 18, 2023, The Constitution Symposium at Bellarmine University will host Ilya Somin, Professor of Law at George Mason University, to speak on “Judicial Review, Political Ignorance, and Voting With Your Feet” drawing upon his books Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom and Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government is […]
On February 19, 1942, Executive Order 9066 was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, allowing the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. The order disrupted the lives of tens of thousands of Japanese Americans, who were relocated to internment camps (most in remote areas of the West). Though many of the interned were U.S. […]
Happy Presidents Day! 🇺🇸🏛🇺🇸 Presidents Day, as we now call it, began as an officially recognized celebration of George Washington’s birthday in 1885. During the 1960s, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which pushed several federal holiday observances to Mondays in order to allow for three-day weekends. This effectively moved Washington’s Birthday from the actual […]
On February 20, 2023, the 2nd Annual Lincoln Program Lecture at Regent University will host Jeffry Morrison to deliver a lecture on, “George Washington and Slavery.” Monday, February 290, 2023 • 1:15 PM ET A hybrid in-person/virtual event • Robertson Hall 103, Regent University Click here to learn more about the program or watch the lecture […]
Today is Mardi Gras! 🎭👑🎉 The day has roots in the Catholic liturgical calendar. The last day before Lent begins, Mardi Gras is traditionally a day of excess before the season of fasting and self-denial before Easter. In the United States, Mardi Gras is particularly associated with the city of New Orleans, where large parties […]
On this day in 1732, founding father and our 1st president George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Aside from serving two terms as our first president, Washington was Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Uniquely, he was in a position of steering the emerging nation to success not only with […]
On this day in 1732, founding father and our 1st president George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Aside from serving two terms as our first president, Washington was Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Uniquely, he was in a position of steering the emerging nation to success not […]
February 23-25, 2023, the University of Houston's Tocqueville Forum on American Ideas and Institution will hold a Liberal Education and Citizenship in a Free Society Conference hosting Keynote Speakers Jim Ceaser, Ben Story, and Keith Whittington. The Conference will discuss Philosophically Informed Approaches to Teaching Ethics and Leadership within Liberal Education. Participants include JMC faculty partners Jeremy […]
On February 23, 2023, the Matthew J. Ryan Center at Villanova University will host faculty partner Lucas Morel for a discussion of Lincoln and the American Founding. The event is part of the Ryan Center's 2022-23 lecture series on "The Constitution: The Meaning of Equality." Thursday, Feburary 23, 2023 • 4:00 PM ET Driscoll 134 […]
On February 23, 2023, the Political Economy, Philosophy, and Politics Roundtable at the University of Wisconsin - Madison will host Professors Englert and Roberts to discuss free trade and inequality in the history of economic thought, especially 19th century. Professor Englert will give a talk titled “French Liberalism and The Problem of Poverty.” Her research interests […]
On February 24, 2023, the Frederick Douglass Project at Providence College will host John Harpham for a discussion of The Intellectual Origins of American Slavery: What were the origins of American slavery? From the time of the constitution to the present, the attempt to answer this question has been an urgent concern for observers of […]
On February 26, 1919, Grand Canyon National Park was established in Arizona. The canyon is truly awe-inspiring – spanning up to 18 miles at its widest point and plunging to over a mile deep, it is actually larger than the U.S. states of Delaware and Rhode Island (!) The Grand Canyon attracts not only American […]
On this day in 1807, American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine. He is one of the best-known poets of the nineteenth century, authoring such prominent and lasting works as “Paul Revere’s Ride”, “The Courtship of Miles Standish”, The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline. His works appealed to the masses. Did you […]
On February 27, 2023 at 11 am ET, JMC's Faculty Partner Daniel Cullen will sit down for a virtual discussion with author Sigal R. Ben-Porath of her new book, Cancel Wars: How Universities Can Foster Free Speech, Promote Inclusion, and Renew Democracy. Faculty partner Jacqueline Pfeffer-Merrill will moderate: In today’s charged political environment, fear of social […]
On this day in 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established as President Ulysses S. Grant signed an act protecting over 2 million acres of wilderness as “a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” It was the first national park in America. 🏕🌲🦌🌳 Did you know? Yellowstone contains roughly 75% […]
The Tocqueville Lecture Series at Jacksonville State University, a JMC partner program, will hold a virtual presentation and Q&A with Dr. Philip Yaure on "Frederick Douglass’s Abolitionist Republicanism": Dr. Philip Yaure will have a presentation on "Frederick Douglass’s Abolitionist Republicanism" to examine three ideas of what makes someone a citizen. He argues that Frederick Douglass […]
On March 2, 2023, the Constitutional Studies Forum at the University of Nebraska-Omaha will be hosting a panel discussion featuring Patrick Deneen (University of Notre Dame), Vincent Phillip Munoz (University of Notre Dame), and Carson Holloway (UNO). The discussion is inspired by Patrick Deneen's book, "Why Liberalism Failed". There will also be time for questions […]
On this day in 1931, the United States officially adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner” as its national anthem. The song was penned in 1814, but gained greater meaning throughout the 19th century, becoming particularly impactful during and after the Civil War. Why? During the upheaval of the war, the American flag had become an even more […]
On March 3, 2023, the Tufts Program in Political Thought at Tufts University will be hosting faculty partner Andrea Radasanu for a lecture on Montesquieu. Professor Radasanu will speak about Montesquieu on Empire and the Law of Nations. Friday, March 3, 2023 • 12:00 PM ET Tisch Library, Special Collections, Room 103 • Tufts University Click […]
On March 3, 2023, the University of Houston's Phronēsis: Honors Minor and Program in Politics & Ethics will host Dr. Paul Carrese to give a lecture as part of the series. This event is free and open to the public. Friday, March 3, 2023 • 1:00 PM CT University of Houston Click here to learn […]
On March 3, 2023, the Voegelin Institute at Louisiana State University will host JMC fellow Frank W. Garmon, Jr. for a discussion of “Microhistory and the Malleability of Identity in Nineteenth Century America.” Friday, March 3, 2023 • 6:30 PM CT Sternberg Salon, French House • Louisiana State University Click here to learn more >> Frank […]
On this day in 1770, the Boston Massacre occurred on King Street in Boston, Massachusetts as colonists rioted and British troops panicked, opening fire and killing 5 men. The incident fueled increasing anti-British sentiment as the colonies approached the Revolution. Did you know? Though labeled a “massacre”, the British troops had been provoked by the […]
On this day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for his invention of the telephone. ☎️ ☎️ ☎️ A native of Scotland, Bell developed his telephone while teaching at a school for the deaf in Boston, Massachusetts. His prototype featured vibrations that electronically transferred sound from one instrument to another. A few days […]
On March 7, 2023, The University of North Texas's Constitutionalism and Democracy Forum will host Dana Stauffer for a lecture on Tocqueville's America. The lecture given by Dr. Stauffer, will present an original interpretation of Alexis de Tocqueville. This event is free and open to the public. Tuesday, March 7, 2023 • 4:00 PM CT 222 […]
On March 8, 2023, Belmont Abbey Honors College will host distinguished journalist Ross Douthat to give a lecture entitled "A Catholic Politics". Ross Douthat is a New York Times columnist, best-selling author, and former senior editor of The Atlantic. Wednesday, March 8, 2023 • 5:30 PM ET A hybrid in-person/virtual event • Belmont Abbey College Click here to watch the lecture online>> […]
On this day in 1864, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Ulysses S. Grant as Lieutenant General of the Union Army. The position gave Grant command of all U.S. armies and made him answerable only to the President himself. The appointment followed a string of unsuccessful general-in-chiefs, including George McClellan, who shared mutual feelings of dislike with […]
On this day in 1913, American abolitionist and leading conductor in the Underground Railroad Harriet Tubman died in Auburn, New York. An escaped slave herself, Tubman took great personal risks to lead at least 70 slaves out of the South to freedom – she never lost a passenger. Did you know? Aside from her work […]
On this day in 1912, the Girl Scouts of America was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia. Inspired by the Girl Guides of Great Britain, Low decided to begin an organization for American girls that emphasized outdoor activities, exercise, independence, and service to others. 🌲⛺️ 🏸⛹️♀️ Soon troops spread across the country. Some […]
On this day in 1751, 4th president and founding father James Madison was born in Port Conway, Virginia. Madison was instrumental in the creation of the Constitution, earning the title “father of the Constitution.” He publicly defended the new form of government, writing some of the most-studied Federalist Papers, and was responsible for compiling the […]
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🍀🍺🍀🍺🍀🍺 Irish-Americans (and not so Irish Americans) across the country celebrate Irish heritage today with parades, corned beef and cabbage, and festive green attire. The holiday, traditionally a celebration of Ireland’s patron saint, has been marked in North America for hundreds of years. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place […]
On March 17, 2023, Lee University’s Center for Responsible Citizenship will host Chief Judge Sutton to give a lecture on Local Solutions to the Court’s Deepest Questions. On March 17th, the CRC will host Chief Judge Sutton to speak at Lee University. Judge Sutton serves as the chief circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals […]
On this day in 1837, 22nd (and 24th) president Grover Cleveland was born in Caldwell, New Jersey. Cleveland is the only president to have served for two separate terms. His time in office was characterized by political reform, hot debates over tariffs and the gold standard, and the greatest economic depression yet seen in the […]
On March 20, 1612, Puritan poet Anne Bradstreet was born in Northampton, England. A leading figure in early American poetry, Bradstreet was the first published poet from the American colonies. Her poetry was lauded in both America and England, and King George III himself was said to keep a volume in his library. 👑 📖 […]
On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech in Richmond, Virginia while arguing for the deployment of Virginia troops in the […]
On March 23, 2023, the Forum on Constitutionalism and Democracy at SUNY-Geneseo will be hosting Eric Adler to give a lecture on the value and future of the humanities, and […]
On March 24, 2023, the Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government at the University of Notre Dame will host Judge Kyle Duncan for a hybrid in-person/live streamed discussion of freedom of speech and American democracy: That a sitting federal judge was prevented from delivering remarks on the law at one of the nation’s most prestigious […]
On March 3, 2023, the University of Houston's Phronēsis: Honors Minor and Program in Politics & Ethics will host Dr. Clifford Orwin to give a lecture as part of its […]
On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire took place in New York City, killing 146 workers, mostly teenage girls. The tragedy is infamous in part for its preventability […]
On March 26, 1874, American poet Robert Frost was born in San Francisco, California. His popular poetry is best known for its focus on nature and rural New England life. […]
On March 27, 2023, the Colloquium on American Citizenship at Samford University will host Kirk Fitzpatrick for a public lecture on "Plato, Aristotle, and Madison on Democracy: Anarchy, Polity, and the Constitutional […]
On March 29, 1874, First Lady Lou Hoover was born in Waterloo, Iowa. The wife of 31st president, Herbert Hoover, Lou served as first lady during the first years of […]
Today marks the birthday of the 10th president John Tyler. Did you know that Tyler was the first vice-president to take office after the death of a sitting president? […]
On March 31, 1918, Daylight Saving Time went into effect for the first time in the United States. The practice had roots in World War I, when clocks were changed […]
On this day in 1776, Abigail Adams wrote her husband John her now-famous letter urging him to "remember the ladies." "I long to hear that you have declared an independency. […]
On this day in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established to organize young, unemployed American men to work on America’s parks and forests. In addition to providing jobs […]
On April 8, 1918, First Lady Betty Ford was born in Chicago, Illinois. During her time as First Lady, Ford brought special attention to drug and alcohol addiction, as well […]
On this day in 1865, the Civil War unofficially ended as General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Did you […]
On April 13, 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was incorporated in New York City. The museum acquired its first object later that year, a Roman sarcophagus that dates to […]
The third president Thomas Jefferson was born on this day in 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. At age 33, he drafted the Declaration of Independence and is remembered as its primary […]
On April 14, 1775, the first abolition society in North America, the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, was established in Philadelphia by Quaker Anthony […]
On this day in 1775, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott set out from Boston, Massachusetts around 10 pm to warn patriots in Lexington and Concord of the approaching […]
On April 19, 1832 First Lady Lucretia Garfield was born in Garrettsville, Ohio. Her time in the White House was short – her husband President James Garfield was assassinated after […]
On this day in 1897, the first Boston Marathon took place. Only 15 runners (all men) took part in the race, with John J. McDermott of New York finishing victorious. […]
On April 20, 1841, one of the earliest detective stories, Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” was published. It is widely held as one of the most […]
On this day in 1791, 15th president James Buchanan was born. The last president born in the 18th century, he served just one term from 1857 to 1861, as […]
On this day in 1800, the Library of Congress was established in Washington, D.C. It is our nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world! Since […]
On April 26, 1785 famed ornithologist John James Audubon was born in Les Caves, Saint-Dominique (modern-day Haiti). Audubon documented 700+ birds of America in his book, Birds of America. His […]
On this day in 1822, 18th president Ulysses S. Grant was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio. Although he served a full two terms as president, he is often best remembered […]
On this day in 1758, 5th president James Monroe was born in Monroe Hall, Virginia. Though he’s often less remembered than fellow founding fathers Madison, Jefferson, or Washington, Monroe was […]
On April 28, 1788, 7th state Maryland was ratified into the United States. Did you know? The Maryland State House is the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use. It […]
On this day in 1789, George Washington became our first U.S. president as he was administered the oath of office at Federal Hall in New York City. Washington […]
On April 30, 1812, Louisiana was admitted to the United States as our 18th state. Did you know? Perhaps unsurprisingly, Louisiana is the birthplace of jazz. The port city of […]
On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building was dedicated in New York City. The 1,250 foot building stood as the tallest in the world until the 1970s with the […]
On this day in 1864, American journalist Nellie Bly was born in Cochran’s Mills, Pennsylvania. Bly (born Elizabeth Cochran) is famous for her daring approach to investigative journalism, and, in […]
On May 5, 1809, Mary Kies became the first woman to receive a U.S. patent for her new method of weaving straw hats using silk and thread. 👒👒👒 Did you […]
On this day in 1884, 33rd president Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri. Truman became president under trying circumstances. Upon the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in […]
On May 9, 1800, American abolitionist John Brown was born in Torrington, Connecticut. He’s best remembered for his forceful means of fighting slavery, in particular the raid he led on […]
On this day in 1869, the first transcontinental railroad in the United States was completed in Promontory Point, Utah, where a golden spike was driven to connect the Union Pacific […]
On May 11, 1858, Minnesota was admitted into the United States as our 32nd state. Did you know? Minnesota was the first Union state to volunteer troops to fight in […]
On this day in 1607, the first permanent English settlement in America – Jamestown, Virginia – was established under the orders of King James I. Early inhabitants struggled in Jamestown, […]
On May 14, 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition began as William Clark departed from Camp Dubois in Illinois to join Meriwether Lewis in St. Charles, Missouri. Over the course […]
On May 15, 1860, First Lady Ellen Wilson was born in Savannah, Georgia. First Lady to Woodrow Wilson, she took a particular interest in art and children’s issues. Before marrying, […]
On May 17, 1792, the New York Stock Exchange was established as businessmen met under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street and signed a trading agreement to give preference to […]
On this day in 1954, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was decided with the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruling that race-based segregation in public schools was unlawful and […]
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington State, killing 57 people and causing $3 million in damages. It was the deadliest and most destructive volcano eruption in […]
On this day in 1780, residents of New England and New Jersey experienced what would later be called “New England’s Dark Day” or “Black Friday.” Starting roughly mid-morning, mysterious darkness […]
On May 20, 1768, First Lady Dolley Madison was born in Guilford County, North Carolina. The wife of founding father James Madison, Dolley balanced his taciturn nature with her sociability, […]
On this day in 1932, American aviator Amelia Earhart departed on her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first woman (and second person, after Charles Lindbergh) to do […]
On May 22, 1902, Crater Lake National Park was established in Oregon. Aside from being jaw-droppingly beautiful, the lake is the deepest in the United States, reaching depths of 1,943 […]