A Blog Exploring American History and Politics
Connecticut Ratifying Convention January 7, 1788 When the Connecticut Ratifying Convention assembled, there were objections against the draft Constitution on the basis that it was “despotic” in its bestowing great power upon Congress: to the objectors, Congress having both the power of the purse and the power of the sword was intolerable. Oliver Ellsworth, however, […]
MoreRefutation of the “Federal Farmer”: Timothy Pickering to Charles Tillinghast Philadelphia, December 24, 1787 Following are excerpts from Timothy Pickering’s letter to Charles Tillinghast, refuting the “Federal Farmer”: “In respect to the organization of the general government, the federal farmer, as well as other opposers, object to
MoreJames Wilson’s Speech at a Public Meeting Philadelphia, October 6, 1787 Following are excerpts of James Wilson’s speech:
MoreAmidst the War of 1812, the Republicans passed a tax law “which included a direct tax on land, a duty on imported salt, and excise taxes on stills, retailers, auction sales, sugar carriages, and negotiable paper. All these taxes, however, were not to go into effect until the beginning of 1814.” Gordon Wood, Empire of Liberty, […]
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