Revolutionary State Constitutions

About this episode

Scholars Nicholas Cole and Robert Williams discuss the impact of Revolutionary-era state constitutions on American constitutional democracy.

In this episode, scholars Nicholas Cole and Robert Williams examine how American constitutional democracy is rooted in the crafting of Revolutionary-era state constitutions. Beginning in May 1776, Americans gave independence meaning by writing state constitutions, experimenting with self-government, and rooting political authority in the people. Cole and Williams explore this critical and often overlooked chapter of the founding era and how these early state constitutions shaped ideas about rights, government, and limits on power, helping to define the nation’s constitutional tradition and set its trajectory for generations to come. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. Resources Nicholas Cole, Quill Project Robert Williams, The Law of American State Constitutions (2023) Constitution of New Hampshire (January 5, 1776) Constitution of South Carolina (March 26, 1776) Constitution of Virginia (June 29, 1776) Constitution of New Jersey (July 2, 1776) Constitution of Delaware (September 10, 1776) Constitution of Pennsylvania (September 28, 1776) Constitution of Maryland (November 11, 1776) Constitution of North Carolina…

People in this episode

Host: Julie Silverbrook

Guests: Nicholas Cole, Robert Williams

Topics covered

• Revolutionary state constitutions
• American constitutional democracy
• self-government
• political authority
• founding era
• rights
• limits on power

Keywords

• state constitutions
• American democracy
• self-government
• founding era
• political authority
• rights
• limits on power

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Law of American State Constitutions, Constitution of New Hampshire, Constitution of South Carolina, Constitution of Virginia, Constitution of New Jersey, Constitution of Delaware, Constitution of Pennsylvania, Constitution of Maryland, Constitution of North Carolina, Constitution of Georgia

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