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? He became president after the death of William Henry Harrison, who held the shortest term in U.S. history. He is also known as the only […]
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 the Great Depression. Did you know? A geology major while at university, Lou had a love of nature and the outdoors and was a strong […]
On March 29, 2022, the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University, a JMC partner program, hosted Heather Wilson, the president of University of Texas at El Paso, former secretary of the U.S. Air Force and former New Mexico’s representative in Congress, to share some of the tough lessons she […]
The Colin Powell School at the City College of New York held a virtual discussion with Ryan Balot, Susan McWilliams Barndt (JMC faculty partner), Jamelle Bouie, Simone Chambers, Roosevelt Montás (JMC faculty partner), and Deva Woodly on Professor Danielle Allen's run for governor of Massachusetts: How can Danielle Allen’s scholarship and ongoing political campaign shape […]
On March 30, 2022, the Constitutional Studies Forum at the University of Nebraska-Omaha hosted faculty partner Diana Schaub for a virtual presentation on Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. Wednesday, March 30, 2022 • 3:30 PM CDT University of Nebraska-Omaha Click here to learn more and register >> Click here to watch on Youtube>> Diana […]
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 by an hour to conserve on fuel. After the war however, the practice proved so unpopular with Americans that it was repealed in 1919. Daylight […]
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. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would […]
On March 31, 2022, the Forum on Constitutionalism and Democracy at SUNY-Geneseo held a virtual discussion with fellow Gregory McBrayer on modern day morality and what Plato can teach us about solving our own moral and political questions: How can a society revive justice when its moral foundations have been shaken by cynicism, sophistry, and […]
On March 31, 2022, the University of North Texas's Constitutionalism and Democracy Forum hosted JMC faculty partner Diana Schaub for a public lecture on her research on Frederick Douglass. Thursday, March 31, 2022 • 4:00 PM CDT Willis Library, 250 H • University of North Texas Click here to learn more >> Diana […]
On March 31, 2022, the Politics Department at Ave Maria University hosted fellow Samuel Goldman for a talk on his recent book, After Nationalism: Being American in an Age of Division. The talk will discuss the three kinds of nationalism Americans have attempted to forge and why they never quite served the purpose for national […]
On April 1, 2022, Harvard University's Program on Constitutional Government will host JMC faculty partner Diana Schaub for a public virtual lecture on Lincoln's greatest speeches. Friday, April 1, 2022 • 12:30 PM EDT Harvard University Free and open to the public. Click here to register >> Diana Schaub is a Professor of […]
On April 3, 1860, the first rider for the Pony Express departed St. Joseph, Missouri. Each of the famed riders rode 75-100 miles straight, handing off letters to another waiting horseman. Letters reached Sacramento, California in a speedy 10 days. Though the Express lasted less than two years, it remains famous as a fixture of […]
The John Dickinson Forum at George Fox University, a JMC partner program, will host JMC fellow Jason Ross to speak on slavery and the American founding. Monday, April 4, 2022 • 6:30 PM PDT Hoover 105 • George Fox University Click here to learn more >> Free and open to the public. Questions? Contact Mark […]
On this day in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established to organize young, unemployed American men to work in America’s parks and forests. In addition to providing jobs for the unemployed, the program led to a greater appreciation and awareness of America’s wilderness. Did you know that over the course of […]
On April 5, 1792, the presidential veto was used for the first time by President George Washington. What was he vetoing? A bill with a new apportionment formula that would give some states more representatives than proportionate to their populations. Congress did not override a presidential veto until 1845 (!) Did you know? Veto is […]
On April 6, 2022, the University of Oklahoma's Institute for the American Constitutional Heritage will host Max Edling for a talk based on his recent book, Perfecting the Union: National and State Authority in the United States. Wednesday, April 6, 2022 University of Oklahoma Click here to learn more >> Max Edling is […]
It’s National Beer Day! 🍺🍺🍺 So, why today? On April 7, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt partially lifted Prohibition regulations, relegalizing 3.2% beer. It would be another 8 months before Prohibition would be completely lifted. Did you know? Unsurprisingly, some of the largest breweries in America sprung up in heavily German areas, such as Pennsylvania […]
On April 7, 2022, the Constitutional Studies Minor at the University of Portland will be hosting Evan Bernick for a lecture on his new book, The Original Meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment: Its Letter and Spirit (Harvard 2021), co-authored with Georgetown law professor Randy E. Barnett. Thursday, April 7, 2022 University of Portland […]
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 as breast cancer awareness. Having faced addiction and breast cancer herself, Ford made the personal public to reduce stigma around these issues. Did you know? […]
On April 8-10, 2022, the Matthew J. Ryan Center at Villanova University will host a three-day student conference, "Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg, and American Political Thought" in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The JMC-sponsored event will give students an opportunity to discuss thinkers and texts tied to America’s founding principles and history that they might not otherwise encounter during […]
On April 8-9, 2022, Belmont Abbey Honors College will host a two-day conference, "'Revolution, Religion, Regime Change, and Liberty': A Discussion of Tocqueville’s Other Book: The Old Regime and the Revolution" featuring four small group seminar sessions on selections from Tocqueville’s L’Ancien Regime et La Revolution. Students and faculty from all institutions will be mixed […]
On April 8, 2022, the Zavala Program for Constitutional Studies at Baylor University will be hosting Gary Jacobsohn for a discussion of American constitutionalism. Friday, April 8, 2022 • 2:30 PM CDT Bennett Auditorium • Baylor University Free and open to the public Click here to learn more >> Gary Jacobsohn is the […]
On April 8, 2022, the Forum on Constitutionalism and Democracy at SUNY-Geneseo will be holding a virtual discussion with faculty partner Alexander Duff on the place of speech in our common life: Contemporary questions about the place of speech in our common life are sometimes articulated as though speech is violence and therefore violence is […]
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 know?: Lee arrived at the meeting in his full dress uniform, while future president Grant wore his muddy field uniform for the occasion. Terms of […]
On April 11, 2022, the University of Houston's Tocqueville Forum on American Ideas and Institutions will host Donald Drakeman to give a talk on his new book, From Breakthrough to Blockbuster: the Business of Biotechnology as part of a broader conference series entitled “Liberal Education and Citizenship in a Self-Governing Republic”. His lecture will showcase the […]
On April 11, 2022, the Frederick Douglass Forum on Law, Rights, and Justice at Linfield University will be hosting acclaimed stage actor Darius Wallace for his portrayal of Frederick Douglass. Mr. Wallace performs one man shows in which he plays Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr., and many other important figures in black history. […]
On April 12, 1861, the Civil War began as Confederate troops under the command of General Pierre Beauregard opened fire on Fort Sumter off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. South Carolina had declared secession in December 1860 after the election of Abraham Lincoln. Did you know? Amazingly, nobody was killed in the Battle of […]
On April 12, 2022, the Public Law and Policy Program at the University of California, Berkeley will be hosting Victor Davis Hanson for a discussion of his recent book, The Dying Citizen. Tuesday, April 12, 2022 • 5:15 PM PDT Warren Room 295 Simon Hall • University of California-Berkeley Click here to learn more >> […]
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 author. Did you know? Jefferson’s proudest accomplishments did not include, as one may expect, serving as president. He requested that his grave be inscribed […]
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 200s A.D. By the 1900s, the museum was considered one of the top art institutions in the world. Today it consists of over 2 […]
On April 13, 2022, the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University, a JMC partner program, will host faculty partner John Tomasi, inaugural president of Heterodox Academy, to discuss trends in higher education: For over a thousand years, the traditional purpose of a university has been the pursuit of truth, […]
On this day in 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was tragically shot and mortally wounded in Ford’s Theatre while watching a performance of Our American Cousin. After being evaluated by doctors, he was taken across the street from the theater to William Petersen's boarding house. This painting, Lincoln Borne by Loving Hands, is the only […]
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 Benezet. Did you know? Though he held slaves as a young man, Benjamin Franklin became a proponent of abolition in his elder years. In the […]
The John Dickinson Forum at George Fox University, a JMC partner program, will host Kevin Gutzman to speak on Thomas Jefferson and the Election of 1800. Thursday, April 14, 2022 • 6:30 PM PDT Hoover 105 • George Fox University Click here to learn more >> Free and open to the public. Questions? Contact Mark […]
On April 14, 2022, Texas State University will be hosting Steven D. Smith for a discussion of American religious liberty. Dr. Smith will explore the traditional understanding of the religious provisions of the First Amendment and the consequences of the Supreme Court’s rejection of that understanding: Situating the roots of America’s approach to the […]
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 British. 🐎🐎🐎 The ride preceded the very first battles of the Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord, and was famously immortalized by Henry Wadsworth […]
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 six months in office. She was particularly admired for her grace in face of the tragedy. A reserved woman, Garfield enjoyed intellectual pursuits, particularly literature […]
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. The number of participants has grown to roughly 30,000 runners in more recent times. Did you know? Women weren’t allowed to enter the marathon […]
On April 19, 2022, the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University will be hosting Governor Spencer Cox and Christopher Peterson for a public discussion of civility in politics. Two of Utah's most recent gubernatorial candidates, Cox and Peterson will talk about their experience with civility and political campaigns and answer questions from the […]
On April 19, 2022, the Alexander Hamilton Forum at Middlebury College will be hosting author Amity Shlaes and former Governor Jim Douglas to discuss the 1920s, the New Deal, and the Great Society: Amity Shlaes is a bestselling author who treats twentieth-century political and economic history. Her biography of Calvin Coolidge, a president who grew up in Plymouth […]
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 important modern detective stories in the English-speaking world, preceding the works of both Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. 🔎 🔦 🗝 🕰 Paving the […]
Do you have questions about the war in Ukraine? The response from the international community? Or about what role the United States could play in the conflict? Ask a JMC faculty partner! On Wednesday, April 20th, JMC will host its second Office Hours with Professor Alberto Coll (DePaul University College of Law) where he will […]
On April 21, 2022, the Constitutional Studies Forum at the University of Nebraska-Omaha will be hosting David Azerrad for a public discussion of influential Enlightenment thinker John Locke. Thursday, April 21, 2022 • 10:00 AM CDT CPACS 132 • University of Nebraska-Omaha The event is free and open to the public. Click here to learn […]
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 the immediate predecessor to Abraham Lincoln. Though Buchanan aimed to compromise in an increasingly divided nation, he failed to prevent the conflict of […]
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 1801, the collection has increased from its initial 740 volumes “necessary for the use of Congress” to over 170 million items. The Library […]
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 faithful paintings of several species are still enjoyed today. Did you know? Audubon, though most associated with American wildlife, was not American himself. He originally […]
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 for his crucial role in winning the Civil War. Did you know? President and Mrs. Grant almost attended Ford’s Theatre with Lincoln on […]
On April 27, 2022, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas's Great Works Academic Certificate Program will host JMC fellow Adam Seagrave for an in-person/virtual lecture on slavery and racism: Professor Adam Seagrave of Arizona State University will give a talk combining a strong statement on the evils of slavery and racism in general, and American slavery […]
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 a popular and accomplished president. In particular, he is distinguished for running for reelection unopposed (the only other president to do so 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 also served as the national Capitol when Annapolis was our nation’s capitol – Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the army here. What’s in […]
On April 29, 2022, the Constitutional Studies Forum at the University of Nebraska-Omaha will be hosting a lecture and follow-up discussion panel on the legacy of James Madison. "The Consistency of James Madison—The Case of the Bill of Rights" will be presented by JMC faculty partner Michael Zuckert at 10:00 AM. A panel discussion on […]
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 appeared on the balcony of Federal Hall in a plain brown suit, solemnly recited the oath of office over the Bible, and, in a mark […]
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 New Orleans was the perfect melting pot for jazz’s development, as the genre borrows elements of both African and European musical traditions. Jazz developed in […]