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 […]
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 […]
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 this weird American tradition come from? As indicated by the preferred language of […]
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 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 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 […]
Dr. McClay will be discussing the centrality of the constitution in the civic education of Americans. This presentation is mandatory for three political science classes and open to the rest of the SPU community.
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 10, 2022, the Forum on Constitutionalism and Democracy at SUNY-Geneseo held a virtual discussion with faculty partner Lorraine Pangle on freedom of speech: This lecture surveys both the case for free speech, grounded in the classical liberal principles that guided the founding of the United States and its universities, and the strongest contemporary […]
The John Dickinson Forum at George Fox University, a JMC partner program, hosted board member Wilfred McClay to speak on American civic education and the Constitution. Thursday, February 10, 2022 • 6:30 PM PST Hoover 105 • George Fox University Free and open to the public. Questions? Contact Mark David Hall at mhall@georgefox.edu. […]
The Tocqueville Lecture Series at Jacksonville State University, a JMC partner program, held a virtual presentation and Q&A with Lucy Williams: The Tocqueville Lecture Series is excited to host Dr. Lucy Williams (BYU). Her presentation, “Civil Rights Exceptionalism” examines how the Supreme Court engages and uses the rhetoric of American exceptionalism in its civil rights […]
On February 11, 2022, the Public Law and Policy Program at the University of California, Berkeley hosted Erwin Chemerinsky, Nadine Strossen, Eric Kaufmann, and Keith Whittington for a discussion of the legal aspects of free speech in academia. The virtual event was free and open to the public. Friday, February 11, 2022 • 10:00 AM […]
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 12, 2022, Christopher R. Green, the Jamie L. Whitten Chair in Law and Government at the University of Mississippi School of Law, spoke on “Equal Citizenship, Civil Rights, and the Constitution: The Original Sense of the Privileges or Immunities Clause” drawing upon his book of the same title: The Privileges or Immunities Clause […]
It’s Super Bowl Sunday! Whether sports fans or not, every American recognizes this nationally-celebrated football game. The first Super Bowl took place in 1967 between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs, but wasn’t given the name “Super Bowl” until Super Bowl III in 1969. 🏈 🏈 🏈 For viewers less interested in […]
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, 2022, the Constitutional Studies Minor at the University of Portland hosted JMC faculty partner Vincent Phillip Muñoz for a lecture on religious freedom and the First Amendment. Tuesday, February 15, 2022 University of Portland Vincent Phillip Muñoz is the Tocqueville Associate Professor of Political Science and Concurrent Associate Professor of Law […]
On February 17, 2022, the James Madison Program at Princeton University hosted JMC fellow Michael Breidenbach for a discussion of his recent book, Our Dear-Bought Liberty, which examines the history of how early American Catholics justified secularism and overcame suspicions of disloyalty, transforming ideas of religious liberty in the process. In colonial America, Catholics were […]
On February 17, 2022, the American Constitution, Citizenship, and Community Speaker Series at Samford University hosted Carl Trueman for a public lecture on "The Modern Self and Civic Politics." Thursday, February 17, 2022 • 6:00 PM CST Regions Room, Brock School of Business • Samford University Click here for more information >> Carl […]
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, 2022, the Zavala Program for Constitutional Studies at Baylor University hosted Sidney Milkis (University of Virginia) for a lecture on his recent book (co-written with Nicholas Jacobs), What Happened to the Vital Center? Friday, February 18, 2022 Baylor University Click here to learn more >> Sidney M. Milkis is the […]
On February 18-19, 2022, Lee University’s Center for Responsible Citizenship hosted its 6th Annual Symposium on Civic Virtue and Thought. The theme of this year’s symposium is “Persons and Place: Wendell Berry and the Weight of Love,” which will explore the importance of human connection and locality through Wendell Berry’s writings. This intercollegiate symposium brings […]
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 its […]
On February 21, 2022, the University of Oklahoma's Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage hosted JMC faculty partner George Thomas to give a talk for Presidents Day on his new book, The (Un)Written Constitution. Monday, February 21, 2022 University of Oklahoma Click here to learn more >> George Thomas is the Burnet C. […]
On February 22, 2022, the Constitutional Studies Forum at the University of Nebraska-Omaha hosted David McPherson for a lecture on the Constitution and imperfection. Tuesday, February 22, 2022 • 10:00 AM CST CPACS, 132 • University of Nebraska-Omaha Free and open to the public. Click here to watch on Youtube>> David McPherson is an Associate […]
On February 22, 2022, the Public Law and Policy Program at the University of California, Berkeley hosted Randy E. Barnett and Linda Lee Denno for a hybrid in-person/virtual discussion of the Fourteenth Amendment. Tuesday, February 22, 2022 • 12:50 PM PST Berkeley Law, Room 105 • University of California-Berkeley A hybrid in-person/virtual event free and […]
On February 22, 2022, the Constitutional Studies Forum at the University of Nebraska-Omaha hosted David McPherson for a lecture on "Somewheres and Anywheres: Patriotism versus Cosmopolitanism." Tuesday, February 22, 2022 • 3:00 PM CST University of Nebraska-Omaha Click here to learn more >> David McPherson is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Creighton […]
On February 23, 2022, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas's Great Works Academic Certificate Program hosted JMC faculty partner Lucas Morel for an in-person/virtual lecture on Frederick Douglass's life and character: Professor Morel will explore how a man who had every reason to hate America became one of the nation’s strongest defenders. Born into slavery, Douglass […]
On February 24, 2022, the University of North Texas's Constitutionalism and Democracy Forum hosted JMC faculty partner Jeremy Bailey to present his research on Thomas Jefferson and Native Americans. Thursday, February 24, 2022 University of North Texas Free and open to the public. Jeremy D. Bailey is Professor and Sanders Chair in Law […]
On February 24, 2022, the Political Theory Institute at American University hosted JMC fellow Richard Avramenko for a discussion of Tocqueville and equality: Today one hears only about increasing inequality, and it is true in terms of income distribution, but Alexis de Tocqueville argues that equality itself is the source of many of the problems […]
On February 24, 2022, Texas State University hosted faculty partner Charles Kesler for a discussion of constitutional interpretation and partisanship: American politics are embittered by the growing fracture between two rival constitutions, two opposed cultures, two contrary ways of life. American conservatives rally around the founders’ Constitution, as amended and as grounded in the rights […]
On February 25, 2022, the Zavala Program for Constitutional Studies at Baylor University hosted JMC fellow Matthew Brogdon for a discussion of corporations and civil liberty. Friday, February 25, 2022 • 2:30 PM CST Bennett Auditorium • Baylor University Free and open to the public Click here to learn more >> Matthew Brogdon […]
On February 25, 2022, the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University, a JMC partner program, hosted Kmele Foster and Karen Attiah for the third and final discussion in its series, "Can We Talk Honestly About Race?": In the third and final event in the series, co-founder and executive producer […]
On this day in 1846, William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody was born near LeClaire, Iowa. Cody came to symbolize “Wild West” culture in America with his famous Wild West Show, featuring figures like Annie Oakley and Sitting Bull. He was not just well-known in the U.S., but arguably one of the most famous Americans in […]
A Virtual Seminar for Florida Teachers Professor David Ramsey (University of West Florida) will lead an interactive discussion for Florida teachers on the Supreme Court and the development of the principle of judicial review. Readings for the seminar will include Constitutional articles, Federalist and Antifederalist papers, and Marbury v. Madison (1800). After the discussion, Dr. […]
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 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% of […]
On March 1, 2022, the Public Law and Policy Program at the University of California, Berkeley hosted Col. Winston Williams for a discussion of the law and warfare in the 21st century. Tuesday, March 1, 2022 • 12:50 PM PST LAW Room 105 • University of California-Berkeley Click here to view on Youtube>> Col. Winston […]
On March 2, 2022, as a part of its President’s Lecture Series, the University of Montana hosted Ross Douthat for a discussion of changes in the Republican Party from Reaganism to Trumpism. Wednesday, March 2, 2022 • 8:00 PM MST Dennison Theatre • University of Montana Click here to learn more >> Click here to […]
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 became an even more impactful […]
On March 3, 2022, the University of Houston's Tocqueville Forum on American Ideas and Institutions hosted Edward Widmer to give a talk on his new book, Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington: Dr. Widmer’s great book on Lincoln’s odyssey from Springfield to Washington D.C. for the Inauguration was released last year and has […]
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 […]