This Day in History: The origins of the Constitutional Convention
On this day in 1787, the Constitutional Convention is scheduled to begin—but nothing happened! The Convention couldn’t get started,...
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tara
- Apr 5
- 2 min
This Day in History: The first presidential veto
On this day in 1792, George Washington issues his first presidential veto. The subject of vetoes had long been a touchy topic in the...
tara
- Mar 29
- 2 min
This Day in History: President John Tyler, “His Accidency”
On this day in 1790, future President John Tyler is born. You probably don’t know too much about Tyler. His presidency was fairly...
tara
- Mar 22
- 3 min
This Day in History: Prohibition comes to an end
On this day in 1933, FDR signs the Cullen-Harrison Act. Americans would finally be allowed to drink beer again! Well, sort of....
tara
- Mar 19
- 3 min
This Day in History: Thomas McKean, President before Washington?
On this day in 1734, Thomas McKean is born. He was President of the United States before George Washington was! Well, sort of. McKean was...
tara
- Feb 1
- 2 min
This Day in History: The first Supreme Court Justices
On this day in 1790, the United States Supreme Court meets for the first time. Okay, technically, it tried to meet. Three of the then-new...
tara
- Jan 26
- 3 min
This Day in History: James Madison on State Power
On this day in 1788, James Madison defends the Constitution in an essay that would be published in newspapers around the country....
tara
- Nov 3, 2022
- 3 min
This Day in History: The 23rd Amendment
On this day in 1964, residents of Washington D.C. cast votes in the presidential election. While such an event might sound routine, the...
tara
- Oct 26, 2022
- 3 min
This Day in History: The Erie Canal, built without federal aid
On this day in 1825, the Erie Canal opens. Did you know that the project was not funded by the federal government? It could have been but...
tara
- Oct 6, 2022
- 3 min
This Day in History: James Wilson's State House Speech
On this day in 1787, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention addresses a large crowd at the State House in Philadelphia. As James...
tara
- Sep 17, 2022
- 2 min
This Day in History: Happy Constitution Day!
On this day in 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution. Perhaps you’ve heard what Benjamin Franklin did...
tara
- Aug 26, 2022
- 3 min
This Day in History: The 19th Amendment
On this day in 1920, the 19th amendment goes into effect, guaranteeing that women cannot be denied the right to vote based on their...
tara
- Jul 21, 2022
- 2 min
This Day in History: “A simple democracy . . . is one of the greatest of evils.”
On this day in 1789, a signer of the Declaration of Independence writes a letter to John Adams. The letter sounds harsh to modern ears....
tara
- May 25, 2022
- 3 min
This Day in History: The Constitutional Convention
On this day in 1787, the Constitutional Convention finally begins. The meeting had been scheduled to start nearly two weeks earlier, on...
tara
- Jan 15, 2022
- 2 min
This Day in History: "Democracy is a volcano"
On this day in 1788, Fisher Ames addresses delegates at the Massachusetts state ratifying convention. Would his state ratify the U.S....
tara
- Dec 15, 2021
- 3 min
This Day in History: Happy Bill of Rights Day!
On this day in 1791, Virginia ratifies the Bill of Rights, making those ten constitutional amendments the law of the land. The Bill of...
tara
- Sep 25, 2021
- 3 min
This Day in History: A Bill of Rights is proposed
On this day in 1789, Congress approves twelve amendments to the United States Constitution. Ultimately, ten of those amendments would be...
tara
- Sep 10, 2021
- 2 min
This Day in History: The final days of the Constitutional Convention
On this day in 1787, the Constitutional Convention draws to a close. The delegates turned to the subject of constitutional amendments....
tara
- Sep 9, 2021
- 3 min
This Day in History: Supreme Court Justice William Paterson
On this day in 1806, William Paterson passes away. If you’ve heard of Paterson, then you probably know him for his work at the...
tara
- Aug 21, 2021
- 3 min
This Day in History: James Wilson, the other Father of the Constitution?
On this day in 1798, a signer of the Declaration of Independence passes away. James Wilson was one of only six men who signed both the...
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