From the Lawton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. Mar 8, 2026 Watching the news unfold about the attack on Iran, I find myself both excited and confused. The excitement is easy to understand; there is the possibility of either a good, or even a very good outcome. A “good” outcome would be to damage Iran’s … Continue reading Iran at a crossroads: Democracy, monarchy, and the lessons of the 1950s
Tag: history
Constitution 101: The Borrowing Clause
From the Lawton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. Mar 1, 2026 When our Founders drafted the Constitution, they envisioned three branches of government with equal strength, balanced by a system of checks and balances. Yet they clearly leaned toward strengthening Congress. Article I, Section 8, which outlines the powers of Congress, is, by far, the … Continue reading Constitution 101: The Borrowing Clause
Nationalism, Patriotism, and the Politics of Identity
From the Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.d. February 25, 2026 During our recent political difficulties, it has become increasingly hard to keep up with the lingo—especially the labels. For example, what’s the difference between a colonialist and an imperialist? Are they different? Does it matter? Maybe not, but it’s still nice to know what … Continue reading Nationalism, Patriotism, and the Politics of Identity
Hawkeye and the Birth of the American Myth
From the Lawton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. Feb 17, 2026 This year, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of America, let’s not forget other important events that shaped our nation, not politically, but culturally. Two hundred years ago this week, one of the most important novels in American literature was published: “The Last of … Continue reading Hawkeye and the Birth of the American Myth
Constitution 101: General Welfare Clause
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
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
Historically Speaking 