Week of Events
The Pony Express begins
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 […]
In 1792, the presidential veto is used for the first time
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 […]
Establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps
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 […]
National Beer Day
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 […]
University of Portland: The Fourteenth Amendment
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 this day in 1918, First Lady Betty Ford born in Chicago, Illinois
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? […]
Belmont Abbey College: Conference on Alexis de Tocqueville
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 […]
Villanova: Student Conference on Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg, and American Political Thought
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 […]
Official end of the Civil War
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 […]
George Fox University: Slavery and the American Founding
George Fox University: Slavery and the American Founding
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 […]
University of Oklahoma: National and State Authority under the Constitution
University of Oklahoma: National and State Authority under the Constitution
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 […]
Baylor: American Constitutional Principles and Original Sin – A Comparative Perspective
Baylor: American Constitutional Principles and Original Sin – A Comparative Perspective
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 […]
SUNY-Geneseo: What We Talk About When We Talk About Political Speech
SUNY-Geneseo: What We Talk About When We Talk About Political Speech
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 […]