Founding Fathers Archives - Page 9 of 10

History Channel’s “Sons of Liberty” vs. Reality

By Dave BennerJanuary 29, 2015American Revolution, Founding Fathers

History Channel’s “Sons of Liberty” was an excellent opportunity to tell the tale of the events that drove Massachusetts against the crown, setting the stage for independence. Unfortunately, it is a highly fictionalized account that gets much wrong. It is filled with myths, dramatized character assassinations, false hyperbole, and relevant omissions. Ultimately, it is a program that seems to provide entertainment rather than to shed light on important historical events.

The US President: A Modern King

By Dave BennerJanuary 10, 2015Constitution, Executive Authority, Monarchy

The modern presidency has assumed a higher level of authority than was imagined during the construction of the Constitution and ratification debates. As a result, the modern executive has more power than an 18th century king.

The Nationalists Lost in 1787

By Dave BennerDecember 27, 2014Constitution, Founding Fathers

The aims of the nationalists largely lost out, and the extent to which the Constitution gave the federal government a huge amount of national power has been exaggerated by many historians. In actuality, the compromises made caused the most ardent nationalists to complain about the finalized result in the months after it was written.

Preserve Liberty: Serve on a Jury

By Dave BennerAugust 15, 2014John Jay, Jury Nullification

Juries are a check on the arbitrary power of the courts because they are composed of citizens not belonging to the government. While a state can wield immense power, an educated jury can dismantle it.

Franklin Pierce: Reviled Jeffersonian

By Dave BennerJuly 5, 2014Constitution, Franklin Pierce

Most modern historians have rated Pierce very poorly, pontificating that the President was a “do-nothing” that sat by and watched a divisive population grow even more divided. To the contrary, Pierce respected the Constitution as ratified and not as it was muddled by federal judges and legal precedents.

A Republic, If You Can Keep It

By Dave BennerJune 22, 2014Benjamin Franklin

According to Franklin, the great experiment of republican government depended on maintaining the axioms decided upon in those summer days. Without such activism, the Constitution would read only as a dead letter.

Tag Archives: Founding Fathers