In this episode:

• A look back on the series.
• A comparison to W.B. Yates’ The Second Coming.
• Macro view of original intent and the Founding Fathers.
• A critique of modern “Progressives.”
• Where we are going as a nation and how we should get there.

In this Episode:

• The task of passing a Bill of Rights is undertaken.
• Alexander Hamilton writes in favor in Federalist 84.
• Federalists use the Bill of Rights to gain support from Anti-Federalists.
• Bill of Rights inspired by John Locke, Virginia Declaration of Rights, English Declaration of Rights, among others.
• The five Great Freedoms of the First Amendment.
• The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

In this Episode:

• The Ratification Debates continue.
• Massachusetts ratifies based on the leading of Samuel Adams and John Hancock and support for a Bill of Rights.
• Maryland ratifies despite Luther Martin’s opposition.
• South Carolina ratifies, while North Carolina remains an Anti-Federalist stronghold.
• New Hampshire becomes the ninth state to ratify, fulfilling the obligations required by the Philadelphia Convention.
• Titans clash in Virginia, but the Constitution is ratified with an agreement to later support a Bill of Rights.
• New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island eventually ratify.
• A new government is formed and a Bill of Rights is passed.

In this Episode:

• The Ratification Debates begin.
• Giants like George Mason, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams and Richard Henry Lee oppose the Constitution.
• The Constitution is sent to the Continental Congress for approval to send to the state legislatures.
• An analysis of the task ahead of the Federalists.
• The Anti-Federalists suffer major losses in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Georgia and New Jersey.

In this Episode:

• The Constitution enters the ratification phase as dictated by Article VII.
• Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay author the Federalist Papers to convince New York citizens to ratify the Constitution.
• Anti-Federalists George Clinton and Robert Yates lobby against the Constitution in their own writings, but are largely overshadowed by the Federalist Papers.
• A look at the first states to ratify the Constitution.
• Examining three important Federalist Papers: Number 10 (a discussion on factions and contrasting democracies and republics), Number 51 (a discussion on the need of government, checks and balances and separation of powers), and Number 78 (a discussion on the judicial branch).

Due to travel and vacation, I will be taking a week off and resuming my posts on August 17.  I hope you are continuing to enjor these as much as I am.

-Ned

In this Episode:

• The life of Gouverneur Morris, drafter of the U.S. Constitution.
• Morris’ work in New York politics.
• Morris as chief advocate for the Continental Army.
• Morris’ role in the Constitutional Convention.
• Morris’ dealings with England and later role as Minister to France during the French Revolution.
• Morris and northern secession.

In this Episode:

• The  final debates at the Constitutional Convention center on signing questions.
• Elbridge Gerry, George Mason and Edmund Randolph all voice displeasure with the document and refuse to sign.
• A committee on style is formed to write the Constitution.
• A Bill of Rights is proposed and debated, but soundly defeated, only for the issue to be resurrected again during the ratification debates.
• Washington supports a measure to increase representation in the House to win over dissenters, but the dissenters refuse to sign.
• The Constitution is signed and the debate for its ratification begins.

In this Episode:

• The  development of the Judicial Branch in the Constitutional Convention.
• Should the Judicial Branch be combined with the Executive Branch?
• A description of the Judicial Branch in Article III and Federalist Papers.
• The Judiciary Act of 1789 and Congress’ roll in forming the Judicial Branch.
• Details on the original courts.
• A discussion on the evolution of the courts today, foreshadowed by Thomas Jefferson.

In this Episode:

• The debate over the Executive Branch.
• Should there be one executive or a council of executives?
• Debates over terms, length of service and the executives relationship to the Congress.
• A discussion on the Electoral College and its roll in the 1800 and 2000 Presidential Elections.
• The eventual formation of Article II of the Constitution.

In this Episode:

• The Founding Fathers and separation of powers.
• The legislative branch intended as the final authority.
• The reaction against monarchy and despots as well as rogue legislatures like Rhode Island.
• The U.S. House of Representatives: features and debates.
• The U.S. Senate: features and debates.

In this Episode:

• The Constitutional Convention and slavery, part two.
• Connecticut and South Carolina continue to work together to prevent prohibitions of slave imports and taxes on exports.
• Various delegates provides their views.
• The similarities between the Constitutional Convention language on slavery and the Northwest Ordinance.
• An analysis of the deep south’s strategy and position.

In this Episode:

• Slavery, the Fugitive Slave Clause, and the Three-Fifths Compromise
• A discussion on slavery, the Constitutional Convention, and the U.S. Contitution
• William Lloyd Garrison and Fredrick Douglass’ views on the Constitution
• The divisions between North and South
• An alliance between Connecticut and the Southern states over exports
• An analysis of the Convention’s handling of the slavery issue

In this Episode:

• The life of Roger Sherman, signer of America’s first four founding documents.
• Sherman lives the typical American life beginning as a cobbler and ending as a national statesman.
• Sherman’s political and legal career in Connecticut.
• Sherman’s role in the Continental Congress and in drafting the Declaration of Independence.
• Colleagues praise Sherman’s character.
• Sherman’s role in the Great Compromise.
• Sherman’s deep religious beliefs and strident opposition to paper money.

In this Episode:

• Religion and the Founding Fathers.
• The Founding Fathers were not deists, atheists and agnostics as some have characterized.
• A look at the first settlers and their motivations.
• Colonial Protestantism, the Puritans, and the influence of Covenant Theology on early American society.
• Comments about Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.
• Quotes from the Founders on religion.

In this Episode:

• The battle over representation nears a compromise.
• Oliver Ellsworth reintroduces Roger Sherman’s “Connecticut Compromise.”
• Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer misses the vote, thus allowing Maryland to support the small states men.
• Georgia also splits their vote on account of Abraham Baldwin.
• The Gerry Committee is formed largely with small state sympathizers.
• The committee affirms equal representation in the Senate, but proportional in the House along with money bills originating in the House.
• These concessions permit the small state men to be open to other large state proposals.

In this Episode:

• The debate continues between the small state men favoring equal representation and the large state men favoring proportional representation.
• Tensions reach a critical mass.
• Benjamin Franklin calls for prayer before each session.
• Were the Founding Fathers deists?
• The men from Connecticut prepare to propose a compromise.
• The delegates end June in despair, almost ready to concede that an agreement could not be reached.

In this Episode:

• Alexander Hamilton’s life, part two of two.
• A focus on Hamilton’s post-convention life.
• Hamilton in the Washington cabinet.
• Hamilton and his role in the creation of the U.S. Mint, First National Bank, and Revenue Cutter Service.
• The formation of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican political parties.
• Hamilton’s launching of the New York Evening Post.
• Hamilton’s affair and role in the 1796 presidential elections.
• Hamilton effectively makes Jefferson President after the 1800 presidential election is decided in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Hamilton duels Aaron Burr.

In this Episode:

• Alexander Hamilton’s life, part one of two.
• Hamilton’s early life as an orphaned and illegitimate son.
• Hamilton’s time at King’s College in New York City and his growing interest in the revolution and military strategy and tactics.
• Hamilton forms his own militia and later contributes significantly to several famous Revolutionary War battle.
• Hamilton’s post-war career includes law and the founding of the Bank of New York.
• Hamilton’s role in the founding of a new government.

In this Episode:

• Alexander Hamilton proposes a radical centralized government based on Great Britain’s system.
• Even his close friend James Madison is amazed by Hamilton’s outlandish proposal.
• The debate over representation continues to prevent substantive progress.
• A profile of Luther Martin, a man who spoke a great lengths but rarely contributed anything of substance.

In this Episode:

• Resuming the events taking place in Independence Hall.
• Summary of the large state advantage.
• Brief biography of William Paterson.
• William Paterson proposes New Jersey plan for small states to rally behind.
• The large states respond.

In this Episode:

• James Wilson, his life and contributions to the Constitutional Convention.
• Wilson’s early life in Scotland.
• Wilson’s close relationship with John Dickinson and Benjamin Franklin.
• Wilson’s public service and influence.
• Wilson’s bad land deals and other legal problems that lead to his demise.
• Wilson’s place in history.

The Constitutional Convention Podcasts will resume on April 20th.  I’ve been heavily involved with the April 15th Tax Day Tea Parties.  So much so, that my organization, American Majority has launched AftertheTeaParty.com a site to help connect potential candidates and activists with American Majority trainings.  You can read a post I’ve written about After the Tea Party by clicking here.

See you on April 20th!

For Liberty,

Ned Ryun

In this Episode:

• Edmund Randolph introduces the Virginia Plan, an effort to increase the strength of the national government
• At the center of the Virginia Plan was Proportional Representation, a concept widely supported by the delegates from the large states.
• The small state delegates react negatively to any change.  They enjoyed Equal Representation under the Articles of Confederation.
• Intense debate over representation divides the convention.
• The large states dominate but push too far as the small states begin to push back.

In this Episode:

• The beginning of the Constitutional Convention.
• George Washington presides over the Convention.
• James Madison keeps detailed notes of each day’s happenings.
• Delaware asserts the rights of small states while reading state’s instructions.
• The Rules of the Convention are laid down.
• Large state delegates come to the Convention better prepared.

In this Episode:

• A short look at the 55 delegates, part 2.
• Delegates from New York, New Hampshire, Maryland, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina.
• Notable convention absences.

In this Episode:

• The city of Philadelphia during the Constitutional Convention.
• An overview of the Constitutional Convention delegates.
• Notable Constitutional Convention absences.
• A short look at the 55 delegates, part 1.
• Delegates from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Delaware.

In this Episode:

• Massachusetts war debt and the raising of land taxes.
• Disgruntled farmers lead a rebellion under Daniel Shays.
• Famous figures give their opinion on Shays’ Rebellion.
• The rebellion is thwarted and some rebels suffer consequences.
• Massachusetts recovers economically, but Shays’ Rebellion still remains in the delegate’s minds as they head to Philadelphia.

In this Episode:

• James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, Part II.
• Madison in the House of Representatives.
• Madison, Patrick Henry and the Bill of Rights.
• Madison, Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans.
• Madison as Secretary of State.
• The Madison Presidency and post-presidential life.

In this Episode:

• James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, Part I.
• Madison’s formative years.
• Madison’s study of republics and his criticism of the Articles of Confederation.
• Madison’s notes on the Constitution.
• Madison’s role in the Federalist Papers.
• Madison, his home state of Virginia and his dealings with rival Patrick Henry.

In this Episode:

• Discussions of trade and commerce between Virginia and Maryland regarding the Potomac River at the Mount Vernon Conference.
• The formation of the Potomac Company.
• Interstate Commerce meeting at the Annapolis Convention.
• Question of the adequacy of the Articles of Convention.
• The proposal of a new convention in Philadelphia and the approval by the Confederation Congress .

In this Episode:

• The challenges of the Articles of Confederation (continued from last week).
• Tension between the Confederation Congress and the state legislatures.
• Early foreign policy concerns.
• Interstate commerce, tariffs, currency, and internal strife.
• Founding era demographics and ways of life.

In this Episode:

• Introduction to the Constitutional Convention and the weekly podcast
• The road to the convention: The Revolutionary War
• The road to the convention: The American confederation debate
• The road to the convention: The Articles of Confederation
• The issues of the convention: Representation, Taxation, Slavery, State Sovereignty and much more.