Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

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Ep. 300 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Scott Harris | A Young Patriot: James Monroe Turns 18 in 1776 May 01, 2026

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As a teenager, he dropped out of college and served in the in the 3rd Virginia Regiment in the Continental Army. After studying law under Thomas Jefferson, he later served in the Virginia House of Delegates, as the US Ambassador to France and England, as governor of Virginia, as the Secretary of War and then Secretary of State. Finally, in March 1817, James Monroe became our country's 5th President and in 1823 he famously introduced the Monroe Doctrine. Quite a legacy for a teenager wounded in the Battle of Trenton at just 18 years old. To help us better grasp James Monroe's incredible service to our country, we are delighted to welcome Scott Harris as our special guest this week. Scott is Executive Director of the University of Mary Washington Museums and previously served as Director of the James Monroe Museum, which is administered by the university.

Ep. 299 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Scot Faulkner | No Tax Without Consent: The Fight for Self-Government Apr 24, 2026

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Every now and then a government does something that goes just a bit too far and causes the people to protest. One such example was the British imposition of the Stamp Act on the American Colonies. What was the Stamp Act? What was the so-called justification for it? What was the reaction from the Americans? To help us tackle this important event that helped usher in a growing anti-monarchy sentiment that culminated in the American Revolution, we are delighted to welcome Scot Faulkner as our special guest today. Scot Faulkner is longtime friend of Constituting America and served as the first-ever Chief Administrative Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives and is Vice President of Shepherd University's George Washington Institute of Living Ethics.

Ep. 298 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Tony Williams | The Pursuit of Liberty: Honoring Thomas Jefferson's Birthday Apr 17, 2026

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Statesman. Author. President of the United States. Perhaps no one's words best embodied the ethos of the Founding Fathers quite like Thomas Jefferson. At Constituting America, we feel what he wrote in the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago makes it one of the world's greatest documents of freedom ever written. To help us better understand Jefferson and his extraordinary enduring legacy, we are pleased to welcome back longtime Constituting America friend, Tony Williams. Tony is a senior fellow at the Bill of Rights Institute, senior fellow at Constituting America and a prolific author of such books as "Divided over the Declaration: How an Enduring Debate Sustains the Vision of America," co-authored with Dr. David J. Bobb.

Ep. 297 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Hon. Bob Pence | Consent of the Governed at 250: The Principle That Still Defines Us Apr 10, 2026

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A foundational principle that distinguished and continues to distinguish our country from most other governments in the world is that our government exists by the "consent of the governed." Why was this idea so paramount to the establishment of our republic, and what is its origin? From Aristotle to Locke, we see the genesis of this idea that was at the core of the American Revolution and continues today. To further expound on principle of "the consent of the governed," we are delighted to welcome the Honorable Bob Pence, former US Ambassador to Finland.

Ep. 296 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Diana Carlin | The Letter Heard Through History: The 250th Birthday of Abigail Adams' "Remember the Ladies" Apr 03, 2026

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The women who contributed to the founding of our country are often overlooked. Their accomplishments played a vital role in the fledgling nation. One such woman is Abigail Adams. While we can never have a direct conversation with this remarkable woman, we are fortunate that she wrote thousands upon thousands of letters to various correspondents, including over 1,100 letters to her husband while they lived apart in his service to the nation. One of Mrs. Adams' letters is our focus today as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of its writing. This letter is sometimes referred to as her "Remember the Ladies" letter written on March 31, 1776 to her husband, John Adams, and she implored Congress to "remember the ladies" in crafting laws for the new country. To lead this discussion, we are honored to welcome Dr. Diana Carlin, Professor Emerita of Communication at Saint Louis University and president of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE).

Ep. 295 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Thomas Kidd | Give Me Liberty: The Speech That Sparked a Revolution Mar 27, 2026

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"Give me liberty or give me death." That singular line proclaimed by Patrick Henry defined our country's founding generation and has become one of the most famous lines in American history. In just 7 words, the ethos of our country and our fierce loyalty to liberty was promulgated. In our chat today, we discuss the events leading up to this famous line and its subsequent impact in our country's history. To offer his expertise on this topic, we are happy to welcome Dr. Thomas Kidd, research professor of Church History at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ep. 294 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Joe Crowley | 250 Years Ago: Celebrating the Irish Behind America's Revolution Mar 20, 2026

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In recognition of St. Patrick's Day this year, Constituting America is recognizing the role the Irish played in the founding of our country. Did you know 3 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Irish-born? Or a sizeable proportion of the Continental Army had Irish ancestry? Since our founding, 23 US Presidents have had Irish blood. To help us recognize the impact the Irish people have had on our country, we are delighted to welcome America 250 Commissioner and former Congressman Joe Crowley to our chat this week.

Ep. 293 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Stan Deaton | Georgia and the American Revolution: Patriots, Principles, and Independence Mar 13, 2026

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Due to its position as the 13th American Colony as well as the last colony to support the American Revolution, the role Georgia played in the founding of our country is often overshadowed by colonies like Virginia and Massachusetts. But Georgia should not be overlooked. To shed light on the role Georgia played and its historical significance in the American Revolution and our country's founding, our guest this week is Dr. Stan Deaton. Dr. Deaton is the Dr. Elaine B. Andrews Distinguished Historian at the Georgia Historical Society as well as the Emmy-winning writer and host of "Today in Georgia History."

Ep. 292 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Robert Allison | 250 Years Ago: High Ground, High Stakes in the Fight for Boston — Dorchester Heights Mar 06, 2026

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A war is a series of battles won. The American Revolution is no different. For the colonies and George Washington to beat the larger British military force, individual battles had to be fought. One victory won by the Patriots early on, did not involve a direct battle. The Fortification of Dorchester Heights, and the subsequent British Evacuation of Boston, exemplifies the early genius of General Washington and the fortitude of hero Henry Knox. Join our special guest, Professor Robert Allison, Professor of History at Suffolk University and Chair of Revolution 250, as we learn about these incredible events.

Ep. 291 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | John Hood | 250 Years Ago: The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge – Where the Revolution Took Root Feb 27, 2026

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We all know the Americans won the American Revolution. But have you stopped to wonder how exactly our smaller army beat the larger professional army of the British and how the series of battles unfolded that led to the eventual British surrender? On our chat today, we are discussing one of those monumental events-North Carolina's Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge-and its impact on the outcome of the war. To provide his knowledge of this battle and the Revolutionary War, we are pleased to welcome John Hood, president of the John William Pope Foundation, a teacher at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy and the author of 10 books.

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