On this day in 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention sign the Constitution. Perhaps you’ve heard what Benjamin Franklin did immediately afterwards? He’d been spotted by a Philadelphia matron as he emerged from that meeting. She was curious. What had delegates been doing behind closed doors? “Doctor,” she reportedly called out, “what have we got, a Republic or a Monarchy?” Franklin’s response was brief: “A Republic, if you can keep it.” The tale is simple, yet Frank

On this day in 1787, the Constitutional Convention draws to a close. The delegates turned to the subject of constitutional amendments. The then-existing draft of the Constitution gave state legislatures the ability to call for a Convention to propose amendments. The U.S. Congress had no similar power. Alexander Hamilton, delegate from New York, was dissatisfied with the provision. “The State Legislatures,” he stated, “will not apply for alterations but with a view to increase

On this day in 1920, the 19th amendment is formally ratified, guaranteeing that women cannot be denied the right to vote based on their gender. The battle for women’s suffrage was long and hard-fought. Suffragettes began their battle as early as the mid-1800s, but an amendment protecting women’s voting rights was not approved by Congress until 1919. The states completed ratification on August 18, 1920, and the U.S. Secretary of State declared the amendment effective on August

During this month in 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention debate an important question: How should a President be elected? You’d be surprised by the great variety of crazy ideas they had. For starters, it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that we’d have only one President. We’d fought a Revolution so we could escape a tyrannical British King. Why would we now invest all Executive power in one man again? Perhaps it would it be better to disperse power. Can you imagi

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. And yet it makes perfect sense. “A simple democracy,” Benjamin Rush wrote, “or an unbalanced republic, is one of the greatest of evils.” Wait. Democracy . . . . evil?! What on earth could he mean? Simple. Our Founders knew that, as a matter of history, simple democracies tend to implode. Naturally, they wanted to avoid such a catastrophe. Per

On this day in 1835, city bells toll as a funeral procession for Chief Justice John Marshall makes its way down Philadelphia streets. Some reports say that the Liberty Bell cracked on that day, although the story has never been proven. Marshall was one of the nation’s early Chief Justices, and his tenure established the Court as we think of it today. But do you know the rest of this Patriot’s story? The future Chief Justice Marshall grew up in Virginia, where George Washi

On this day in 1755, Tench Coxe is born in Philadelphia. Was he a Patriot or a Loyalist? People weren’t so sure at first. But he rehabilitated himself—or at least his reputation—and later served in four presidential administrations. He also became a prolific writer on the importance of an armed citizenry. Perhaps it’s unsurprising, given his background. Coxe’s father was once a stamp (tax) collector in New Jersey. Patriot threats and protests caused him to resign, but then

On this day in 1787, New Jersey’s state ratification convention begins. It would quickly approve the then-new U.S. Constitution, making New Jersey the third state to join the union. New Jersey’s quick action is interesting, if only because the state’s delegates to the Constitutional Convention had expressed doubt about the earliest draft of the Constitution. They definitely were not on board with that idea! When the Constitutional Convention opened in the summer of 1787,

On this day in 1787, “Publius” publishes an essay defending the Constitution in several New York newspapers. Publius?! Publius who? Most modern Americans have never heard of him. How unfortunate. The collection of works written by Publius was critical to the establishment of our Constitution. We’ve been living with our Constitution for so long that it can be easy to forget what things were like before. Perhaps you know that the Constitution was drafted in Philadelphia during

On this day in 1913, the 17th Amendment is ratified. For the first time in American history, voters would be able to directly elect their...

On this day in 1752, Gouverneur Morris, author of the Constitution’s Preamble, is born in New York. Morris was well-educated, witty,...

On this day in 1933, the 20th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, changing the dates on which a new Congress and...

On this day in 1787, Delaware begins ratification debates on the United States Constitution. Mere days later, it would ratify that...

On this day in 1787, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania begins ratification debates on the United States Constitution . You might imagine a...

On this day in 1793, Roger Sherman passes away. He is best known as the only person to sign all four Revolutionary-era state documents:...

On this day in 1938, Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a law setting a federal minimum wage. The bill was the culmination of months of work:...

On this day in 1961, the Twenty-third Amendment is ratified, giving Washington, D.C. votes in the Electoral College. A few years later,...

On this day in 1787, the “Father of the Constitution” writes Thomas Jefferson. The Constitution had been sent to the states for approval...

On this day in 1798, John Adams writes a letter to officers in the Massachusetts militia. Adams thought America then free of certain...

On this day in 1782, the Continental Congress recommends a Bible to the residents of the United States. This particular translation was...