“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
The American Revolution wasn’t just about throwing off a king. It was built on a radical idea: that the people have the right to resist and nullify usurpations of power by any government. Today, we’ll dive deep into this secret weapon for liberty from the...
Few today know James Otis, Jr. – born Feb 5, 1725 – whose 5 hour oration against the Writs of Assistance in 1761 sparked the flames of liberty, “American Independence was then & there born.” Learn some of the highlights of his most important works: In...
The revolution started years before the war commenced – a change in the views and sentiments of the people. And we can trace the beginning of the controversy between Great Britain and America to James Otis Jr, and his arguments against the Writs of Assistance in...
After John Dickinson urged them to take action in response to the Townshend Acts of 1767, James Otis, Jr. and Samuel Adams drafted the Massachusetts Circular Letter, which was sent to the other colonies – and London – on Feb 11, 1768. What transpired...
Who is the greatest threat to liberty? Is it the left or the right? Politicians or their bankers? People who support the “lesser of two evils,” or someone else? James Otis, unsurprisingly, had some strong views on the “most dangerous character to...
Today in history, on Feb. 5, 1725, James Otis Jr., a Massachusetts patriot who many considered indispensable to the cause of liberty, was born. A fiery orator and fierce defender of traditional Whig principles, Otis’ role as a colonial agitator was truly pivotal. As...