The War of 1812 and State Sovereignty: New England’s Militia Resistance Explained
Was the militia intended to be used as an offensive military force in foreign lands? During the War of 1812, New England states not only said no, but they used the principles of the 10th Amendment to actively interpose and resist federal demands for mobilizing the...
Tench Coxe: Originalism and the Founders’ Understanding of the Constitution
“Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American.” If he’s even remembered at all today, people today generally look at Tench Coxe as the founder who forcefully advocated for the natural right to keep and bear arms....
Tench Coxe: A Detailed Breakdown of State vs. Federal Powers
Despite being little known today, Tench Coxe was an influential founding father, and in early 1788, he provided what was possibly the most comprehensive list of examples to explain the division of state and federal powers under the proposed Constitution. In his three...