Constitution Daily Blog
Civil War
On this day, the Emancipation Proclamation changes history
January 1 is one of the most noteworthy days in American history, marking President Abraham Lincoln’s decision to issue the…
The Gadsden Purchase and a failed attempt at a southern railroad
On December 30, 1853, a treaty was signed where Mexico sold the United States 29,000 square miles of territory for what eventually…
The Previous Question: The Filibuster’s Early Murky History
One of the classic images in modern film is from Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington from 1939, when Jimmy Stewart’s…
Was Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation the first Executive Order?
This Thursday, Americans celebrate a Thanksgiving holiday that has its roots in colonial traditions. But was that holiday actually…
On this day, West Virginia starts controversial statehood process
On October 24, 1861, a group of delegates in 39 Virginia counties decided to start the process of forming their own state during…
Franklin Pierce’s murky legacy as President
On this day in 1869, former President Franklin Pierce passed away in New Hampshire. Pierce was regarded as an ethical hard worker,…
Chester Alan Arthur: Obscure or underrated?
If you are a presidential historian or a fan of facial hair, you probably know a little about Chester Alan Arthur. For the rest of…
On this day, the Missouri Compromise is approved
On March 3, 1820, Congress approved the Missouri compromise, a law that maintained a balance in the Senate between free and slave…
On the day, Justice Noah Swayne confirmed by the Senate
On this day in 1862, Noah Swayne was confirmed by the Senate to replace Justice John McLean, one of two dissenters in the Dred…
The U.S. Supreme Court and Vigilantes
Are we becoming a nation of vigilantes? A recent opinion article by two legal scholars suggested the answer is yes.
