10th Amendment
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...
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...
Federalism and the 10th Amendment: Tench Coxe Explains Delegated and Reserved Powers
“Independent of the control or interference of the federal government.” That’s how Tench Coxe described the vast majority of power under the Constitution – reserved to the states and completely off-limits to federal authority. Perhaps better than any...
Bill of Rights: Forgotten Role of the 10th Amendment in Its Creation
The Bill of Rights was born from intense battles between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over delegated and reserved powers. This clash not only shaped its contested origins but also left its true purpose misunderstood to this day. 1. Initial Efforts Rejected During...