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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 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 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 […]