This is Democracy – Episode 320: Is the U.S. Constitution Broken?

This is Democracy – Episode 320: Is the U.S. Constitution Broken?

From This is Democracy by This is Democracy

April 13, 2026 · 40 min

About this episode

The episode features a discussion with historian Mark Peterson about the evolving nature of the U.S. Constitution.

This week, Jeremi and Zachary host historian Mark Peterson to discuss his book, The Making and Breaking of the American Constitution: A Thousand-Year History, and to rethink the Constitution as a long-evolving relationship among people, government institutions, land, and written instruments rather than a single 1787 text. Mark Peterson is the Edmund S. Morgan Professor of History at Yale University. He is the author of three major books: The Price of Redemption: The Spiritual Economy of Puritan New England; The City-State of Boston: The Rise and Fall of an Atlantic Power, 1630-1865; and, most recently, The Making and Breaking of the American Constitution: A Thousand-Year History.

People in this episode

Hosts: Jeremi, Zachary

Guest: Mark Peterson

Topics covered

  • U.S. Constitution
  • American history
  • government institutions
  • historical analysis
  • evolution of law

Keywords

  • U.S. Constitution
  • Mark Peterson
  • American history
  • government
  • historical evolution

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Yale University

Books & works: The Making and Breaking of the American Constitution: A Thousand-Year History, The Price of Redemption: The Spiritual Economy of Puritan New England, The City-State of Boston: The Rise and Fall of an Atlantic Power, 1630-1865

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