A cooperative effort, this online repository presents 100 milestone documents in American history. The first document is the Richard Henry Lee Resolution of June 7, 1776, proposing independence for the American colonies. The last is the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In between, visitors will find Eli Whitney's 1794 cotton gin patent, the 1862 Pacific Railway Act, and the 1896 Plessy vs. Ferguson ruling.
Additional documents include the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916, and orders and addresses by several presidents, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower. There is a full-page scan and transcription of each document. In addition to the chronological list of 100 documents, the site includes a "People's Vote." Of the 100 documents, Americans voted the Declaration of Independence number one, followed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Professor Jack Rakove looks at the creation of the Bill of Rights by the Founding Fathers, focusing particularly on James Madison's work and beliefs related to the Bill of Rights. He uses writings by Madison as a framework.
Professor Hadley Arkes returns to the original debate over whether the Bill of Rights should be added to the Constitution. He looks at the arguments that were put forward, the basis of these arguments, and the repercussions the inclusion of and the contents of the Bill of Rights have had on U.S. history. He uses the 1986 U.S. Supreme Court case Goldman v. Weinberger as a frame for discussing these issues. This lecture continues from the lecture "A Reconsideration of the Original Case Against the Bill of Rights, Part One."
Professor Hadley Arkes returns to the original debate over whether the Bill of Rights should be added to the Constitution. He looks at the arguments that were put forward, the basis of these arguments, and the repercussions the inclusion and the contents of the Bill of Rights have had on U.S. history.
Professor Donald Brand examines the relationship of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal to earlier American political traditions—including the policies of Woodrow Wilson and those of the U.S. Founding Fathers. This lecture continues from the lecture "Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Second Bill of Rights, Part One."
Professor Donald Brand examines the relationship of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal to earlier American political traditions—including the policies of Woodrow Wilson and those of the U.S. Founding Fathers.
Professor Christopher Flannery examines the ideals and values associated with being "American," what those ideals mean, and where they originated. Flannery looks at the founding documents of the United States and the positions of the Founding Fathers and of other notable figures throughout U.S. history.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Monday, August 2nd, 9:00 am-10:30 am session; and select either the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.
An older version of this lecture can be found here.
Professor Lucas E. Morel looks at the history of slavery in the U.S., examining the Founding Fathers' attitudes towards slavery and the policies on slavery written into the founding documents of the U.S.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Monday, June 21st, 9:00 am-10:30 am session; and select the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.
An older version of this lecture can be found here.
Professor Gordon Lloyd examines the U.S. Bill of Rights, its wording, its drafting and acceptance, and the arguments that sprang up surrounding it during its creation.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Friday, June 25th, 9:00 am-10:30 am session; and select the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.
Older versions of this lecture, from newer to older, can be found here and here.
Professor Gordon Lloyd details the final proceedings of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution. He looks at the final form of the Constitution agreed upon, the Brearley Committee, the Committee of Style, the convention members who refused to sign the Constitution and their reasons, and Benjamin Franklin's "Rising Star" speech which concluded the Convention. This lecture continues from the lecture "Constitutional Convention III: The Committee of Detail Report."
To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Wednesday, June 23rd, 9:00 am-10:30 am session; and select the RealAudio image or link in the gray bar to the left of the main body of text.
An older version of this lecture can be found here.