National Constitution Center

Speech to the Women's Rights Convention, Assembled in Worcester, MA (1851) National Constitution Center Historic Documents Library record for Speech to the Women's Rights Convention, Assembled in Worcester, MA (1851)

#OnThisDay in 1851, the second annual National Women’s Rights Convention is held in Worchester, MA. The event drew more than 1,000 attendees.

Read activist and newspaper editor Clarina I. Nichols’ speech to the convention:

The Insurrection Problem Violence has marred the American constitutional order since the founding. Is it inevitable?

Read Rosen’s piece from the project, “The Insurrection Problem”: ow.ly/WHuX50XbY5r

The Atlantic celebrates America's 250th birthday We sit down to discuss the founding of the country and where we’re going next.

Yesterday on @npr.org’s 1A, Jeffrey Rosen discussed his contribution to @theatlantic.com’s call for writers to cover the country’s founding era to find out what America’s political thinkers valued at its beginning.

Listen now: ow.ly/BS2j50XbY5s

The Military-Industrial Complex Speech (1961) National Constitution Center Historic Documents Library record for The Military-Industrial Complex Speech (1961)

#OnThisDay in 1890, five-star General President Dwight D. Eisenhower is born. In his 1961 farewell address, he coined the phrase “military industrial complex.”

Read an excerpt on corporate interests monopolizing national interests:

Native Americans and the Constitution Town Hall video for Native Americans and the Constitution

Today is #IndigenousPeoplesDay.

Explore the history of Native Americans and the #USConstitution with #AmericasTownHall:

10 fascinating facts on the White House’s anniversary Today marks the anniversary of an American icon: the White House. Here's a look back at its remarkable history.

#OnThisDay in 1792, construction begins on an American icon: The White House.

Since then, the White House has survived an attack, a near-condemning, a second fire, and an effort to build a rival presidential residence.

The Struggle for Human Rights (1948) National Constitution Center Historic Documents Library record for The Struggle for Human Rights (1948)

#OnThisDay in 1884, Eleanor Roosevelt is born. She would go on to redefine the position of first lady, including serving as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.

Read her speech in favor of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

#OnThisDay in 1635, Roger Williams is banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony due to his religious beliefs.

Explore how the #FreeExercise clause, protecting freedom of religion, became a part of the #USConstitution:

Franklin Pierce’s murky legacy as President On this day in 1869, former President Franklin Pierce passed away in New Hampshire. Pierce was regarded as an ethical hard worker, but he struggled as a national leader when he openly advocated for pro-slavery states as a Northerner in the 1850s.

#OnThisDay in 1869, former President Franklin Pierce dies. He struggled as a leader when he openly advocated for pro-slavery states in the 1850s.

Learn more about Pierce’s murky legacy as president:

On this day: “No taxation without representation!” The Stamp Act Congress met on this day in New York in 1765, a meeting that led nine Colonies to declare the English Crown had no right to tax Americans who lacked representation in British Parliament.

The Stamp Act Congress meets on this day in 1765, leading the nine Colonies to declare the English crown had no right to tax Americans who lacked representation in British Parliament.

A new Supreme Court term with high stakes for the nation and the Roberts Court President Donald Trump’s legal battles will dominate the new term of the U.S. Supreme Court even as the justices once again wade into culture war issues such as gun regulations, LGBTQ rights, and money in elections.

Every year, #SCOTUS starts its new term on the first Monday in October, an annual event dating back to 1917.

Marcia Coyle previews significant cases the Court will hear during the 2025-2026 term for #ConstitutionDaily:

Why the Supreme Court starts on the first Monday in October Each year, the Supreme Court starts its new term on the first Monday of the month of October, an annual event that goes back to 1917. Why is that day so special and when did the Justices start their annual sessions before then?

Every year, #SCOTUS starts its new term on the first Monday in October, an annual event dating back to 1917.

Learn what happens on the first day back for the justices:

Chester Alan Arthur: Obscure or underrated? If you are a presidential historian or a fan of facial hair, you probably know a little about Chester Alan Arthur. For the rest of us, he’s one of the more obscure leaders in American history.

One of the more obscure presidents in American history, Chester Alan Arthur, is born #OnThisDay in 1829.

After assuming the presidency, Arthur set his own independent course for his remaining three years in office.

Rutherford B. Hayes: Controversial and little remembered Today marks the birthday of the one of the most controversial U.S. presidents, Rutherford B. Hayes, who took office amid a constitutional crisis and left office defending his reputation.

#OnThisDay in 1822, one of the most controversial presidents, Rutherford B. Hayes, who took office amid a constitutional crisis, is born.

Learn more about Hayes’ legacy with #ConstitutionDaily:

Remarks on Taxation (1909) National Constitution Center Historic Documents Library record for Remarks on Taxation (1909)

#OnThisDay in 1871, Secretary Cordell Hull is born. Hull’s constitutional arguments on taxation still echo in modern-day debates around taxing the nation’s wealthy.

10 fascinating facts about former President Jimmy Carter Today we remember former President Jimmy Carter. The Georgia native was certainly unique in comparison with other Presidents.

Today we remember former President Jimmy Carter, born #OnThisDay in 1924.

Explore his legacy with 10 fascinating facts about his life:

The 19th Amendment: Women Win the Vote (1917-1920) - Google Arts & Culture This online exhibit—the final part in a three-part series—mirrors the third section of the National Constitution Center’s exhibit, “The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote.”

#OnThisDay in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson gives a speech to Congress in support of a constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote. Visit our online exhibit learn about the efforts that led to this moment:

How the Supreme Court ruled on press censorship cases after World War I In a three-part series, Constitution Daily looks at a series of landmark cases that have defined First Amendment rights and free speech for the press. In part two, we review how controversies from the World War I era and its aftermath shaped laws that eventually expanded free speech.

How did #SCOTUS rule on press censorship cases after World War I? #ConstitutionDaily unpacks controversies from that era that eventually expanded free speech.

Read now:

Today is #NationalPodcastDay! 🎙️🎧 Celebrate by tuning in for @ConstitutionCtr’s three podcasts: #WeThePeoplePodcast, #PursuitPodcast, and #LiveAtTheNCC.

Learn more: ow.ly/iS9J50X4o8i

On this day: Congress officially creates the U.S. Army To some it seemed like a technicality, but on this day in 1789, President George Washington succeeded in getting the First Congress to recognize the U.S. Army under the terms of our new Constitution.

#OnThisDay in 1789, President George Washington succeeds in getting the First Congress to recognize the U.S. Army under the terms of the new Constitution.

Read #ConstitutionDaily to learn more:

The Struggle for Human Rights (1948) National Constitution Center Historic Documents Library record for The Struggle for Human Rights (1948)

#OnThisDay in 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt, who redefined the role of First Lady, delivers a speech in support of the Declaration of Human Rights, connecting human rights to America’s constitutional tradition.

Read an excerpt in the #FoundersLibrary:

On this day, the Confederation Congress agrees to a new Constitution On September 28, 1787, the congress under our first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, agreed to submit a new Constitution to the states, an act that would render that legislative body obsolete.

#OnThisDay in 1787, the congress under our first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, agrees to submit a new #Constitution to the states, an act that would render that legislative body obsolete.

On #PursuitPodcast, Lindsay M. Chervinsky talks about John Adams’ critique of oligarchy with Jeffrey Rosen.

Watch and listen to #PursuitPodcast:

#OnThisDay in 1789, George Washington appoints Thomas Jefferson as the first U.S. Secretary of State.

Learn more about the first Secretary of State and third U.S. president from this past episode of #AmericasTownHall:

American Treasures: Documenting the Nation's Founding - Google Arts & Culture Explore rare documents that trace the drafting and ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

#OnThisDay in 1789, Congress passes amendments that will become the Bill of Rights. Explore how the first 10 amendments became a part of the U.S. Constitution on our online exhibit:

On this day, Congress proposes the Bill of Rights to the states On September 25, 1789, the First Congress made a highly-anticipated move in arguably the most important congressional session in history, when it agreed on a list of constitutional amendments known as the Bill of Rights.

#OnThisDay in 1789, the First Congress makes a highly anticipated move in arguably the most important congressional session in history, when it agrees on a list of constitutional amendments known as the #BillOfRights.

A look at early landmark free press censorship cases In the first part of a three-part series, <i>Constitution Daily</i> looks at a series of landmark cases that have defined free speech rights in the press and popular media, from the Colonial era until today. In part one, we look at controversies from the founding until the Civil War’s end.

In a new three-part series, #ConstitutionDaily recaps landmark cases that have defined free speech rights in the press and popular media, from the Colonial era until today. Part one covers controversies from the founding until the Civil War’s end.

Read now:

The Man Who Made the Supreme Court Podcast for The Man Who Made the Supreme Court from the National Constitution Center

#OnThisDay is 1755, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall, is born in Germantown, VA.

Listen to a conversation with Marshall’s biographer, Richard Brookhiser, discussing Marshall’s legacy:

The Emancipation Proclamation’s other anniversary President Abraham Lincoln altered the course of the Civil War and American society when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863. But the Proclamation had its roots in a key announcement made on September 22, 1862.

#OnThisDay in 1862, in what became known as the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln publicly states that if Confederate states didn’t return to the Union by January 1, 1863, slaves in those territories would be freed.

#SCOTUS Justice Amy Coney Barrett reflects on the importance of disagreeing with ideas rather than people and the ability of the #USConstitution to be amended.

Listen to #WeThePeoplePodcast: ow.ly/Gt0Z50WZyuE