Thomas Paine, Bridgebuilder
Thomas Paine had many talents beyond writing, but the most surprising and under-appreciated was his aptitude for engineering.
Category Archives: Founding Fathers
Thomas Paine, Abolitionist
In 1774, there was nothing more extreme than a belief in the abolition of slavery. Nevertheless, before there was Common Sense and The Rights of Man, there was Thomas Paine the abolitionist.
Thomas Paine, Tax Collector?
What would you think if I told you that America’s banner-waver of the American Revolution – often described as a “tax revolt” – was actually a tax collector? Well, I don’t have to allege it, because it’s true.
The Political Influence of James Wilson’s State House Yard Speech
Despite his own ideological proclivities, Wilson articulated the plain truth – that the Constitution was a federal model based on enumerated powers rather than general authority.
WAS THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE CONSTITUTIONAL?
It is sometimes alleged that the Louisiana Purchase was a particularly unconstitutional act and an example of presidential malfeasance.
What Did the Founders Mean by “Invasion”?
A firestorm of controversy has recently erupted over what is meant by the word “invasion” that appears in both Article I, Section 8, Clause 15, and Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution.