Today in History: Passage of the Coinage Act of 1792
Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution prohibited paper money at both a Congressional and state level.
Today in History: Constitutionalist Pres. John Tyler Born
Today in 1790, future president of the United States John Tyler was born. Mockingly called “His Accidency” by his political rivals, Tyler’s strict devotion to the Constitution made him made enemies, including his own party. Former Mayor of New York Philip Hone wrote in 1842 that Tyler’s administration had consisted of “one year of the…
Today in History: Parliament Passes the Quartering Act
The act required the colonists to quarter British soldiers at “inns, livery stables, ale houses, victualing houses, and the houses of sellers of wine and houses of persons selling of rum, brandy, strong water, cider or metheglin.
Today in History: Patrick Henry’s “Give me Liberty” Speech
On March 23, 1775, tensions in Virginia were at their highest point during the imperial crisis with Britain. The House of Burgesses, the state’s elected assembly, was about to make a bold decision which may have turned the tide of the entire patriot struggle – a decision commit its militia to the cause. Britain had…
Today in History: Parliament Repeals the Stamp Act
Today in 1766, British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, after months of protest from the colonies and British merchants. On the same day, it also passed the Declaratory Act, a pronouncement that Parliament’s authority in North America was supreme and binding upon the colonies. It declared that Parliament had the authority “to make laws and…
Today in History: James Madison’s Birthday
On March 16 1751, James Madison was born. Born to a prestigious family, he built his political career upon his role in the inception of Virginia’s first republican constitution and his advocacy for the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom. Butting heads with Patrick Henry in the 1780s, he opposed funding for religious establishments in Virginia…
War Powers: The Difference Between a Declaration of War and an AUMF
An Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF) is not the same as a declaration of war. An AUMF is the Congress abdicating its power and allowing the president to usurp it. More importantly, it allows the president to start a war. The declaration of war power does not allow Congress to start a war. It…
Today in History: The Boston Massacre, a Pivotal Step on the Road to Independence.
Today in history, Mar. 5, 1770, a violent incident unfolded on Boston’s King Street, where an agitated group of colonists swarmed around a group of British regulars. This came to be known as the “Boston Massacre.” After a group of Bostonians uttered insults, threw snowballs, and dared the British to fire, several soldiers ultimately fired…
Today in History: James Madison’s Veto of Infrastructure Spending in the Bonus Bill of 1817
On Mar. 1817, President James Madison vetoed the Bonus Bill of 1817 – a plan that called for the federal construction of various roads, bridges, and canals throughout the country. In a letter to Congress, the president explained his rationale. Out of all historical writings on constitutional interpretation, I believe it stands today as one…
Today in History: Articles of Confederation Adopted
On Mar. 1, 1781, the states adopted the Articles of Confederation, putting into operation the first constitution of the United States. Primarily written by prominent Pennsylvania lawyer John Dickinson, the Articles of Confederation was an attempt to establish a confederated union in the United States. Prior to the Articles of Confederation, the Continental Congress had…
- Go to the previous page
- 1
- …
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- …
- 87
- Go to the next page