This Day in History: Delaware, The First State
On this day in 1787, Delaware begins ratification debates on the United States Constitution. Mere days later, it would ratify that...
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Nov 213 min read
This Day in History: Pennsylvania’s stormy debate over the Constitution
On this day in 1787, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania begins ratification debates on the United States Constitution . You might imagine a...
tara
Oct 272 min read
This Day in History: What Were the Federalist Papers?
On this day in 1787, “Publius” publishes an essay defending the Constitution in several New York newspapers. Publius?! Publius who? Most...
tara
Sep 173 min read
This Day in History: Happy Constitution Day!
On this day in 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention sign the Constitution. Perhaps you’ve heard what Benjamin Franklin did...
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Jul 233 min read
This Day in History: Nearly Forgotten Founder Roger Sherman
On this day in 1793, Roger Sherman passes away. He is best known as the only person to sign all four Revolutionary-era state documents:...
tara
Jun 253 min read
This Day in History: FDR Pushes the Limits of the Constitution
On this day in 1938, Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a law setting a federal minimum wage. The bill was the culmination of months of work:...
tara
Mar 293 min read
This Day in History: The 23rd Amendment
On this day in 1961, the Twenty-third Amendment is ratified, giving Washington, D.C. votes in the Electoral College. A few years later,...
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Oct 24, 20232 min read
This Day in History: James Madison on the Constitution
On this day in 1787, the “Father of the Constitution” writes Thomas Jefferson. The Constitution had been sent to the states for approval...
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Oct 11, 20231 min read
This Day in History: John Adams on the Constitution
On this day in 1798, John Adams writes a letter to officers in the Massachusetts militia. Adams thought America then free of certain...
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Sep 12, 20232 min read
This Day in History: Aitken's Bible
On this day in 1782, the Continental Congress recommends a Bible to the residents of the United States. This particular translation was...
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Aug 17, 20232 min read
This Day in History: Washington on Human Nature
On this day in 1779, General George Washington writes a letter. He was worried about a double agent, then working for the Continental...
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May 14, 20233 min read
This Day in History: The origins of the Constitutional Convention
On this day in 1787, the Constitutional Convention is scheduled to begin—but nothing happened! The Convention couldn’t get started,...
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Apr 5, 20232 min read
This Day in History: The first presidential veto
On this day in 1792, George Washington issues his first presidential veto. The subject of vetoes had long been a touchy topic in the...
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Mar 29, 20232 min read
This Day in History: President John Tyler, “His Accidency”
On this day in 1790, future President John Tyler is born. You probably don’t know too much about Tyler. His presidency was fairly...
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Mar 22, 20233 min read
This Day in History: Prohibition comes to an end
On this day in 1933, FDR signs the Cullen-Harrison Act. Americans would finally be allowed to drink beer again! Well, sort of....
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Mar 19, 20233 min read
This Day in History: Thomas McKean, President before Washington?
On this day in 1734, Thomas McKean is born. He was President of the United States before George Washington was! Well, sort of. McKean was...
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Feb 1, 20232 min read
This Day in History: The first Supreme Court Justices
On this day in 1790, the United States Supreme Court meets for the first time. Okay, technically, it tried to meet. Three of the then-new...
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Jan 26, 20233 min read
This Day in History: James Madison on State Power
On this day in 1788, James Madison defends the Constitution in an essay that would be published in newspapers around the country....
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Oct 26, 20223 min read
This Day in History: The Erie Canal, built without federal aid
On this day in 1825, the Erie Canal opens. Did you know that the project was not funded by the federal government? It could have been but...
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Oct 6, 20223 min read
This Day in History: James Wilson's State House Speech
On this day in 1787, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention addresses a large crowd at the State House in Philadelphia. As James...
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