October 2, 1967: Thurgood Marshall’s Supreme Court Legacy Begins

On October 2, 1967, Thurgood Marshall made history by becoming the first African American Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. His appointment by President Lyndon B. Johnson was a significant milestone in the nation’s ongoing struggle for racial equality. Marshall’s long career as a civil rights attorney, combined with his profound influence on…

What’s the Deal with the Electoral College?

Perhaps no extant product of the U.S. Constitution has received more bipartisan animus than the Electoral College. Since 1800 there have been more than 700 proposals introduced in Congress to amend or eliminate the way in which America chooses its presidents. Yet the Electoral College lives on. Why do we have this system? Why does…

Ratification of the 19th Amendment

The United States Constitution’s 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, was ratified in 1920, marking an important turning point in American history. According to the amendment, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account…

Compromises in the Creation of the U.S. Constitution

The United States Constitution was created through a series of compromises among the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The delegates, representing 12 of the 13 original states, met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had been the governing document of the United States since the American Revolution. However, the delegates…

How did the US Constitution Come About and Why Did it Succeed?

After the failed national response to Shays Rebellion, members of the unicameral congress realized that the Articles of Confederation needed to be amended. The Constitutional Convention was a gathering of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies (except Rhode Island) in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. The delegates were there to discuss the problems…