Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights: Born From the Fight Over Delegated and Reserved Powers
On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was ratified and became part of the Constitution. Most people think they know why. But most actually don’t. It was birthed out of a brutal political battle between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over a question that nearly...
The Ninth Amendment: Partner to the Tenth in Limiting Federal Power
The Ninth Amendment. Most people don’t know what it says or means. Others just ignore it. Those who don’t, usually get it completely wrong. The Ninth isn’t a grant of additional federal power. It’s a partner to the Tenth Amendment and a firewall for...
James Madison’s Speech that Set the Stage for the Bill of Rights
On June 8 1789, the “Father of the Constitution” James Madison rose on the floor of Congress to propose a series of significant amendments, setting the stage for what would become the Bill of Rights. FROM SKEPTIC TO ADVOCATE The occasion marked somewhat of a strong...
Resistance, Revolution, and Liberty: The Untold Legacy of John Hancock
“I glory in publicly avowing my eternal enmity to tyranny.” On January 23, 1737, one of America’s most important yet often overlooked revolutionaries was born: John Hancock. Though he is widely recognized today for his iconic signature on the Declaration...