Beginning this week’s curation is the latest 1776 Series essay, “Madison's Five Lessons for Overcoming Polarization.” University of Virginia professor Lynn Uzzell writes about how James Madison, one of America's greatest statesman, can help lessen undue political partisanship. Drawing on Madison's writings, Uzzell recovers a classical approach to political persuasion, rhetoric rightly understood, and the true nature and grounds of political civility. She highlights the remarkable moral and civic resources available to modern Americans through a respectful engagement with the American Founding, which can help us recover our republican way of life. Mark David Hall counters the critiques of the 1619 Project in a general survey of the history of slavery in America, finding that our nation was founded on anti-slavery principles, though the principle that “all men are created equal” didn’t have the immediate political effect of abolishing slavery nationwide. Hall argues that the Founders “formed a constitutional order intended to secure” the principle of natural human equality, which led future generations to “abolish slavery,” eliminate “Jim Crow legislation,” and elect an “African American as president of the United States.” Michael Warren describes the top five reasons why all Americans should revere the U.S. Constitution. According to Warren, important features of the Constitution include that, unlike the British Constitution, it’s a written document whose text can be read and appealed to by all Americans, and it was approved by the people’s representatives through special conventions in every state. As Warren writes, “The United States Constitution is not some musty piece of parchment, written in barely legible calligraphy and irrelevant to our lives. To the contrary, it is a governing document of profound significance that all Americans should revere.” Original Posts Lynn Uzzell, RealClearPublicAffairs There has never been a time when our nation wasn’t divided by partisanship. Yet some eras are more divisive than others, and few... Michael Warren, RealClearPublicAffairs Essential Reading Educating for American Democracy The United States stands at a crossroads of peril and possibility. A healthy constitutional democracy always demands reflective... In the News Glenn Ellmers, American Mind John Blake, CNN Lia Eustachewich, New York Post Greg Weiner, Law & Liberty Trudy Rubin, Philadelphia Inquirer Mark David Hall, Chronicles Daniel P. Schmidt, Philanthropy Daily Associated Press Glenn Ellmers, American Mind Christopher Rufo, City Journal Harvey Klehr, Law & Liberty Dan McLaughlin, National Review Robert P. Ingalls, American Heritage Leo DeLuca, Smithsonian Magazine Stanley Kurtz, National Review Christopher Wray, CSPAN FBI Director Christopher Wray took part in a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) virtual discussion on the importance... Educating for American Democracy In recent decades, we as a nation have failed to prepare young Americans for self-government, leaving the world’s oldest constitutional... Lindsay Chervinsky & Tony Williams, BRI Scholar Talks Among the different constitutional traditions George Washington established as America’s first president, perhaps one of... Jeff Sikkenga, Ashbrook Ashbrook seeks to strengthen constitutional self-government by educating our fellow Americans -- students, teachers, and citizens... Center for Education Reform Our mission is to expand educational opportunities that lead to improved economic outcomes for all Americans, particularly our... Steven B. Smith & Richard Reinsch, Liberty Law Talk Welcome to Liberty Law Talk. I’m Richard Reinsch. Today we’re talking with Steven Smith about his new book, Reclaiming Patriotism... Carl Cannon's Great American Stories Good morning, it's Friday, March 19, 2021, the day of the week when I reprise a quotation meant to be ... On this date in 2004, Americans got a sneak preview of an ego that would shape the national zeitgeist a ... Fifty-eight years ago today, two young men shook hands at the end of a basketball game, their last as collegiate ... |