History
James Madison: The Constitution vs the National Bank
In 1791, James Madison gave two major speeches on the National Bank, opposing it primarily on grounds that it wasn’t a power expressly delegated in the Constitution. He also rejected claims that used the general welfare and necessary and proper clauses, along with the...
Unlimited, Centralized Power: “In All Cases Whatsoever”
Of all the Acts of Parliament that angered the American colonists and led to the Revolutionary War, the Declaratory Act is possibly one of the most important, but probably the least-known. It attempted to affirm unlimited, centralized power over the colonies, and...
Prelude to Nullification and Freedom: The Pennsylvania Abolition Society
Personal Liberty Laws in response to the Federal Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850 were some of the most successful and important nullification efforts in history. But they didn’t come out of nowhere. Quaker opposition to slavery had a long tradition and led to the...
Remembering Boston Massacre Day: John Hancock Edition
Little known to most people today, for many years after the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770 – residents of the city held a solemn public holiday to commemorate the event annually. These tributes featured special orations, poetry, and visual representations. On...