Newton exemplified the Scientific Revolution—an event that changed not only how people thought about the physical universe, but also how they thought about politics and government. This greatly affected the U.S. Constitution.
The ideas that formed the Constitution, Part 17: Sir Isaac Newton Read More »
Locke’s writings contained many specific observations realized in the Constitution
The ideas that formed the Constitution, Part 16: John Locke and the Ninth Amendment Read More »
John Adams featured Harrington in the first volume of his encyclopedia of republican governments, which circulated at the Constitutional Convention.
The ideas that formed the Constitution, Part 15: James Harrington & Algernon Sidney Read More »
Key framers explained why the Constitutional Convention had authority to propose a new form of government.
The Founders were far more interested in Machiavelli’s “Discourses on Livy” than in “The Prince.”
The ideas that formed the Constitution, Part 14: Machiavelli Read More »
The most important lesson the Founders learned from Tacitus was that power corrupts.
The ideas that formed the Constitution, Part 13: Tacitus Read More »
Could a convention of states could change the “one state/one vote” rule to one based on population? The short answer
No, a Convention of States Could Not Change the “One State/One Vote” Rule Read More »
About 40 percent of the title characters in Plutarch’s biographies ended up as pen names in the constitutional debates,
The ideas that formed the Constitution, part 12: Plutarch Read More »
After studying him in school, as adults, many of the Founders remained devoted to Livy.
The ideas that formed the Constitution, Part 11: Livy Read More »
Participants in the ratification debates could supplement English by using Virgil’s expressions . . . Virgil gave their message more force.
The ideas that formed the Constitution, Part 10: Virgil alone Read More »
Founding era state legislative records show beyond doubt that an amendments convention is a “convention of the states”
When the framers and ratifiers used the phrase “regulate Commerce” they meant “regulate trade.” Both “regulate commerce” and “regulate trade” meant to administer the body of jurisprudence known as the law merchant.
New Study Finds Administrative State Unconstitutional Read More »
