Podcasts – Teaching American History

Dr. Gordon Lloyd, Professor Emeritus of Pepperdine University and Senior Fellow at the Ashbrook Center, took time on 17 September of this year to talk with a group of people about the history and importance of the United States Constitution, in honor of the 228th anniversary of its signing. The post Dr. Gordon Lloyd’s Constitution Day Presentation appeared first on Teaching American History.

On Saturday, 19 September, TAH.org hosted the second in this year's American Presidents webinar series, this time studying the two terms of James Madison. The audio is a little rough at the beginning for our moderator, but quickly smooths out, so stick around for some very insightful discussion of Madison's presidency, the War of 1812, and how the 'Father of the Constitution' governed. You can access the video archive and list of documents here. The post Saturday Webinar: James Madison appeared first on Teaching American History.

This course consists of four session, each rooted in a video presentation by Dr. Lloyd in front of a teacher audience, focused on a specific topic and drawing from a selection of relevant documents. Each session's post includes a list of Scenes within the given Act, with dates listed within each Scene - this helps expand on the metaphor of the Constitutional Convention as a drama. Most every day includes a link to information about what happened on that day, mostly drawn from Madison's Debates, the most comprehensive and accurate record of the Convention. As you watch the video for each session, take notes on Dr. Lloyd's insights about the Convention, the contributions of different delegates, topics discussed, and decisions made. Then expand on your notes by going through the different documents linked from the post. This way, you'll learn directly from Dr. Lloyd, and you'll clearly see where his ideas are found in the documents. Scene 1: The Structure and Powers of Congress August 6 Twenty-Three Articles presented August 7 Article IV and the suffrage issue August 8 Article IV deliberated August 9 Article V dissected August 10 Article VI and Pinckney’s property qualifications August 11 Article VI continued August 13 Reconsideration day and Dickinson’s remark on experience August 14 Article VI and ineligibility August 15 Reintroduction of Council of Revision August 16 Deliberation of the Enumeration of Congressional powers August 17 Deliberation of the Enumeration of Congressional powers August 18 Creation of the Committee of 11 August 20 Article VII and the Issue of Rights Scene 2: The Slavery Question and Creation of the Judiciary August 21 Report of Committee of 11 August 22 Article VII Section 4 and slavery August 23 Discussion of Articles VII – IX August 24 Committee of 11 reports on slavery August 25 The Slavery Question August 27 Articles X and XI discussed August 28 Articles XII – XV discussed August 29 Articles XVI – XVII deliberated Scene 3: Adoption of the Report; Creation of Brearly Committee August 30 Articles XVII – XXI adopted August 31 Discontent within agreement The post The Constitutional Convention as a Four-Act Drama: Act 3 appeared first on Teaching American History.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+11+Flannery.mp3 Focus What qualities did Publius expect or take for granted in the American people who would be living under the proposed new constitution? In what ways was the constitution a response to these qualities? What qualities did Publius expect in the people who would serve respectively in the House of Representatives, the Senate, the office of President, and the Supreme Court? How did the functioning of each of these branches and of the constitution as a whole involve the operation of these qualities? What are the relations of the composition, powers, mode of selection, and tenure of office of the House of Representatives, Senate, Executive, and Judiciary to the political purposes these offices were meant to serve and to the overall purposes to be served by the constitution? How, in particular, do any of these elements contribute to the effective functioning of the separation of powers?   Readings The Federalist Papers, 52-85, esp. 52, 55, 57, 62,63, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 77, 78, 84, 85. The post Session 11: The Federalist Papers – Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches appeared first on Teaching American History.

This course consists of four session, each rooted in a video presentation by Dr. Lloyd in front of a teacher audience, focused on a specific topic and drawing from a selection of relevant documents. Each session's post includes a list of Scenes within the given Act, with dates listed within each Scene - this helps expand on the metaphor of the Constitutional Convention as a drama. Most every day includes a link to information about what happened on that day, mostly drawn from Madison's Debates, the most comprehensive and accurate record of the Convention. As you watch the video for each session, take notes on Dr. Lloyd's insights about the Convention, the contributions of different delegates, topics discussed, and decisions made. Then expand on your notes by going through the different documents linked from the post. This way, you'll learn directly from Dr. Lloyd, and you'll clearly see where his ideas are found in the documents. Scene 1: Derailment over Representation of States and People June 20 John Lansing questions legality of the Amended Plan June 21 Specifics of House Representation discussed June 22 Specifics of House Representation discussed June 23 Ineligibility requirements for members of Congress June 25 The purpose of the Senate June 26 Specifics of Senate Representation discussed June 27 Resolutions 7 and 8 discussed June 28 Luther Martin resumes his “discourse” on the role of the States Scene 2: Contours of Compromise: Partly Federal, Partly National June 29 Ellsworth: “we were partly national; partly federal” June 30 Loose talk of division and disunion July 2 Creation of the Gerry Committee Scene 3: Independence Day Contemplation July 4 “When in the Course of Human Events” Scene 4: The Gerry Committee Compromise Proposal Discussed July 5 The Compromise Proposal has three components July 6 Debating the merits of proportional representation July 7 Sherman reinforces case for equal representation of States in Senate July 9 Distributing 56 seats in the House to the 13 States July 10 North – South, Large – Small discussion July 11 The census and representation July 12 “Blacks equal to the whites in the ratio of representation?” July 13 Representation in the SenateConfederation Congress Passes the Northwest Ordinance July 14 Does partly national, partly federal make sense? Scene 5: Decision Day on the Connecticut Compromise July 16 Connecticut Compromise accepted (5 – 4 – 1) Scene 6: Return to the Amended Virginia Plan; Committee of Detail Created July 17 The Supreme Law of the Land and the Presidency July 18 Discussion of Resolutions 11 – 16 July 19 Reconsideration of the Presidency July 20 More disputation over the Presidency July 21 The Council of Revision revisited July 23 Resolutions 17 – 19 debated July 24 Controversy over the Presidency July 25 More discussion on the Presidency July 26 Constitutional Convention adjourns with the creation of a 5 member Committee of Detail The post The Constitutional Convention as a Four-Act Drama: Act 2 appeared first on Teaching American History.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+10+Morel.mp3 Focus What is "delicate" about the two questions raised at the end ofFederalist 43? "The time has been when it was incumbent on us all to veil the ideas which this paragraph exhibits. The scene is now changed, and with it, the part which the same motives dictate." What does Publius mean by this last sentence in the penultimate paragraph of 43? What articles and clauses of the Constitution are discussed in 43 and 44? How, in Federalist 43, does Publius defend the Convention's proposal to supersede the Confederation "without the unanimous consent of the parties to it"?   Why, in the American representative republic, should the people "indulge all their jealousy and exhaust all their precautions" against the legislative branch? What are Publius' criticisms of Thomas Jefferson's suggestions for maintaining the separation of powers? Why does Publius think that it is necessary to have the "prejudices of the community" on the side of even the most rational government?  What kinds of prejudices is he thinking of? "[I]t is the reason of the public alone that ought to controul and regulate the government. The passions ought to be controuled and regulated by the government." How does Publius reconcile this principle with the republican principle that government "derives all its powers directly or indirectly from…the people"? Why would "an extinction of parties necessarily [imply] either a universal alarm for the public safety, or an absolute extinction of liberty"? What is the principle of separation of powers? What is the greatest threat in the American republic to separation of powers, and why is this the greatest threat?   Readings The Federalist Papers, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47,48, 49, 50, and 51. The post Session 10: The Federalist Papers – The Sum of Power and the Separation of Powers appeared first on Teaching American History.

This course consists of four session, each rooted in a video presentation by Dr. Lloyd in front of a teacher audience, focused on a specific topic and drawing from a selection of relevant documents.   Each session's post includes a list of Scenes within the given Act, with dates listed within each Scene - this helps expand on the metaphor of the Constitutional Convention as a drama. Most every day includes a link to information about what happened on that day, mostly drawn from Madison's Debates, the most comprehensive and accurate record of the Convention.   As you watch the video for each session, take notes on Dr. Lloyd's insights about the Convention, the contributions of different delegates, topics discussed, and decisions made. Then expand on your notes by going through the different documents linked from the post. This way, you'll learn directly from Dr. Lloyd, and you'll clearly see where his ideas are found in the documents.   Scene 1: Prologue May 14 Constitutional Convention lacks necessary quorum May 21 Connecticut selects three delegates (William Johnson, Roger Sherman, and Oliver Ellsworth) May 25 Constitutional Convention meets quorum requirement May 28 Committee on Rules Reports rules for Convention Scene 2: The 15 Resolutions of the Virginia Plan May 29 Virginia Plan introduced and defended by Edmund Randolph Scene 3: First Discussion of the Virginia Plan May 30 Resolution 1 amended May 31 Resolutions 2 – 6 discussed and 5a defeated June 1 Debated and postponed Resolution 7 on the Presidency June 2 Further lengthy deliberation of Resolution 7 June 4 Council of Revision clause of Resolution 8 postponed June 5 Consideration of Resolutions 9 – 15 Scene 4: Madison-Sherman Exchange June 6 Are people “more happy in small than large States?” Should Resolution 4a be adopted? Scene 5: Second Discussion of the Virginia Plan June 7 How to fill “the chasm” created by defeat of Resolution 5a June 8 Resolution 6 and the negative on State laws June 9 Reconsideration of Resolution 7 Scene 6: The 19 Resolutions of the Amended Virginia Plan June 11 Popular representation in both branches? Sherman’s compromise June 12 The specifics of representation June 13 Virginia Plan amended Scene 7: The 9 Resolutions of the New Jersey Plan Discussed June 14 John Dickinson to Madison: “you see the consequences of pushing things too far.” June 15 New Jersey Plan introduced June 16 The plan is “legal” and “practical” Scene 8: The 11 Resolutions of Hamilton’s Plan Presented June 18 Neither the Virginia Plan nor the New Jersey Plan is adequate to secure “good government” Scene 9: Decision Day: Adoption of the Amended Virginia Plan June 19 New Jersey Plan rejected (3 – 7 – 1) The post The Constitutional Convention as a Four-Act Drama: Act 1 appeared first on Teaching American History.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+9+Flannery.mp3 Focus   What is the structure of the argument of The Federalist? What improvements in "the science of politics" did Publius think necessary to make the republican form of government defensible? What isFederalist 10's republican remedy for the problem of faction? What are the defects of the Confederation, according to Publius? Why is there "an absolute necessity for an entire change in the first principles of the system"? What "inducements to candor" and to the "spirit of moderation" does Publius present in Federalist 37-38? What were the difficulties "inherent in the very nature of the undertaking referred to the [constitutional] Convention"? What are (some of) the ingredients of republican government? Of good government? How is the proposed government both federal and national according to Publius in Federalist 39? How, in Federalist40, does Publius answer the question of "how far the conventions were authorized to propose such a government"?   Readings The Federalist Papers, 1-40, especially 1, 6, 9,10, 14, 15,23, 35, 37, 38, 39, and 40 The post Session 9: The Proposed Constitution of 1787 and Its Defense in The Federalist Papers appeared first on Teaching American History.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+8+Morel.mp3 Focus How does the Constitution work? How do constitutional means produce constitutional ends? How do the principles of the regime work their way into the mechanisms of the federal government? What role does public opinion play in constitutional self-government?   Readings Constitution of the United States of America Declaration of Independence The Federalist Papers William B. Allen, "Best Friends: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution" The post Session 8: The Constitution and American Self-Government appeared first on Teaching American History.

We kicked off the 2015-16 season of TAH.org's Saturday Webinars with George Washington, father of our country, and a discussion of his person, times, and the challenges America faced in its first years as a republic. Read the documents and view a YouTube archive of the discussion - attended by over 100 teachers right here. The post Saturday Webinar: George Washington appeared first on Teaching American History.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+7+Lloyd.mp3 Focus Who was elected to the Committee of Detail and what has been their position so far with respect to the republican and federal issues? How does the Committee on Detail Report differ from the original and amended Virginia Plans and what significant recommendations did it make? Who was elected to the Slave Trade Committee and what had they said about slavery up to that point? How did the slavery provisions undergo changes during the deliberations?   Readings James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787: August6, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20,21, 22, 23, 24, and 25. The post Session 7: The Constitutional Convention pt3 – The Committee of Detail Report and the Close of the Convention appeared first on Teaching American History.

George Washington’s Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, RI is perhaps the best expression of the spirit of religious liberty that shaped the new American republic.  August of 2015 is the 225th anniversary of its composition, and our webinar on 22 AUG was in celebration of this important moment in American history. In addition to Washington’s letter, scholars and teachers discussed Madison’s “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments” and the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.  All three documents may be found in 50 Core American Documents: Required Reading for Students, Teachers and Citizens. George Washington’s Letter to the Hebrew Congregation James Madison’s Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom For the story behind the letter and additional information about it, please visit the web site of the George Washington Institute for Religious Freedom.   The post Religious Liberty and the American Founding appeared first on Teaching American History.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+6+Lloyd.mp3 Focus What accounts for the persistence of the New Jersey Plan supporters despite their defeat earlier? What are the arguments against the "legality" and "practicality" of the Amended Virginia Plan? When and how did the Connecticut Compromise emerge as a viable alternative? How did the "partly national, partly federal" concept enter the discussion? Why did Madison argue that the issue facing the delegates was not small states vs. large states but the slavery question? What is the significance of who was elected to the Gerry Committee? Who changed their minds and why during this month long discussion over representation? Who favored and who opposed the Connecticut Compromise? What else, besides the representation issue, was discussed during this part of the Convention?   Readings James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787: June 26,29,30, July 2,5, and 16 The post Session 6: The Constitutional Convention pt2 – The Connecticut Compromise appeared first on Teaching American History.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+5+Lloyd.mp3 Focus Of what significance were the rules adopted by the Convention? In what respects did the Virginia Plan represent a new constitution rather than a mere revision of the Articles? What were delegates' initial reactions and questions concerning the Virginia Plan? What parts of the Plan were rejected or amended? What did the delegates mean when they spoke of a national government as opposed to a federal government? What different principles animate the New Jersey and Virginia Plans and the Hamilton Proposal? Why were they even introduced? What are the arguments for representation of the states, as opposed to the people, in the federal government? Consider the discussions of the executive power, bicameralism, and the role of the judiciary in the context of "republican principles." What do "republican principles" say about the sources of power, the powers, and the structure of the federal government? Is Madison’s extended republic argument a departure from republican principles?   Readings Lloyd and Lloyd, The Essential Bill of Rights, James Madison, "Vices of the Political System of the United States," 246-253 James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787: May 29,31, June 6, 11,13,15, and 18 The post Session 5: The Constitutional Convention, pt1 – The Alternative Plans appeared first on Teaching American History.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+4+Fischer.mp3 Focus How did the American colonists define liberty and freedom as they sought to secure their independence from mother England? During the Revolutionary War, what difficulties did the Americans face in fighting for liberty while maintaining the supremacy of civilian over military authority?   Readings Fischer, Washington's Crossing The post Session 4: The Revolutionary Era appeared first on Teaching American History.