From the Layton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. Feb 10, 2026 One of the primary goals of our Founders in writing the Constitution was to limit governmental authority. While they recognized the need for a stronger federal government, they also deeply feared it. To help protect the nation, they created a system that limited the … Continue reading Constitution 101: General Welfare Clause
Tag: history
The Tree of Liberty and the cost of Revolution
From the Layton Constitution “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” This famous line, attributed to Thomas Jefferson, has returned to public discourse amid protests against ICE and Donald Trump. It is not usually spoken by elected leaders, who understandably avoid revolutionary language, but … Continue reading The Tree of Liberty and the cost of Revolution
An Impossible Journey That Helped Win a Revolution
From the Southwest Ledger In the history of great events, there are usually hundreds of smaller moments that make them possible. While those moments are critical at the time, they are often lost to history. Such is the case with the American Revolution, which we are commemorating this year. One of those overlooked events occurred … Continue reading An Impossible Journey That Helped Win a Revolution
When protest threatens democracy
From the Lawton Constitution For me, one of the most important issues we face moving forward is our respect for law and democracy. Whether one agrees with it or not, ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is a legal federal agency carrying out legally authorized duties. To claim otherwise is misleading and, at best, risks … Continue reading When protest threatens democracy
The Pamphlet That Made Our Nation
From the Southwest Ledger On the first day of class each semester, when discussing expectations, I tell my students that the most important things I hope they learn is how to write. Most of them will never work in the field of history and while I certainly hope they gain an understanding of the past … Continue reading The Pamphlet That Made Our Nation
Constitution 101: Revenue and Presentation Clauses
From the Southwest Ledger As we begin the new year, we are also starting a new section of Article I, one of the most familiar and important parts of our Constitution. When we think about constitutional protections, we often focus on checks and balances, and one of the most notable of those checks is the … Continue reading Constitution 101: Revenue and Presentation Clauses
Still a City on a Hill: Celebrating 250 Years Of the American Experiment
From the Southwest Ledger “We must delight in each other; make others’ conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as members of the same body... We shall find that the God of Israel is among us, when ten of … Continue reading Still a City on a Hill: Celebrating 250 Years Of the American Experiment
2025: A Year in Review
From the Lawton Constitution At the end of every year, I like to look back over my columns and reflect on the events significant enough to write about. Given the ups and downs of the past 12 months, it almost feels cliché to say that 2025 was a crazy year. Crazy has become the norm. … Continue reading 2025: A Year in Review
From Schenck to today: When political rhetoric edges toward dangerous lines
As a Civil War historian, I’m often asked how close we are to repeating 1860. My answer has always been that we aren’t there yet, but we are edging closer to the 1850s. A recent example of this rising partisanship came last month when six Democrats released a video urging U.S. troops to refuse presidential … Continue reading From Schenck to today: When political rhetoric edges toward dangerous lines
Constitution 101: The Ineligibility and Incompatibility Clauses
From Southwest Ledger When the American colonies first clashed with Britain over taxation, much of their frustration focused on Charles Townshend and later Frederick North. Both men served simultaneously as members of Parliament and as Chancellor of the Exchequer. In American terms, this would be like someone serving as a senator while also acting as … Continue reading Constitution 101: The Ineligibility and Incompatibility Clauses
Historically Speaking 