National Constitution Center

Dred Scott decision still resonates today | Constitution Center On March 6, 1857, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the Dred Scott case, which had a direct impact on the coming of the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln's presidency four years later.

#OnThisDay in 1857, #SCOTUS issues one of the most controversial decisions in the Court’s history: Dred Scott v. Sandford.

Chief Justice Taney announced that enslaved people had no rights to sue in federal courts and could not be citizens.
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On #AmericasTownHall, author Melvin Rogers of Brown University reflects on Abraham Lincoln’s goals through the Gettysburg Address.

Watch the full conversation: https://ow.ly/yUpK50Y8e83

The Debates

Celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth and explore the arguments for and against women’s suffrage through historic prints using our online interactive: https://ow.ly/feX850Yn62j

Bronze statues of historical figures in 18th-century attire inside a museum setting, one holding a blue pennant celebrating the 250th anniversary of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Bronze statues of historical figures in 18th-century attire inside a museum setting, one holding a blue pennant celebrating the 250th anniversary of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Show your spirit for America's 250th! 🎆 Set up a monthly donation (of just $25/month!) totaling $250 through December 2026 and receive a free gift! 🚩

Learn more: https://ow.ly/18WJ50Yp6aM

This week on #WeThePeoplePodcast, revisit Tomiko Brown-Nagin and Elizabeth Cobbs discussing key women who inspired constitutional change throughout American history for #WomensHistoryMonth.

Hear Cobbs discuss Susan B. Anthony and listen now: https://ow.ly/CIH450YpPNB

On this day, the Boston Massacre lights the fuse of revolution | Constitution Center On March 5, 1770, British soldiers fired upon a group of rowdy colonists, killing five and wounding others.

#OnThisDay in 1770, Bostonians were fuming over taxes and constant surveillance by the British military. As a result, a disagreement between a wigmaker apprentice and a soldier easily escalated to a small riot.

Read more about the Boston Massacre: https://ow.ly/hWRE50Yn5UT

19th Amendment | Constitution Center Universal suffrage proposals first emerged during the Reconstruction era (1865-1877). Suffragists later modeled their proposal after the 15th Amendment (1870) and settled on language to end sex discrimination in voting. First proposed in 1878, the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment” was introduced in each…

This #WomensHistoryMonth, explore the documents and events that eventually led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment: https://ow.ly/s9Ki50Yn5Ww

This #WomensHistoryMonth, “remember the ladies” with us!

On Mar. 11 at 5 p.m., visit the Center for trivia, food, and awesome prizes – all with FREE admission. Plus, a cash bar for 21+. 🥨🥂

Learn more: https://ow.ly/3UvU50Yn5KP

Join the National Constitution Center Semiquincentennial Scholar Jon Meacham for a discussion on his new book, covering pivotal speeches, letters, and essays from across American history.

Register to attend on Thursday, March 19 at 7 p.m. ET: https://ow.ly/hphG50Yp7c3

On this day, government begins under our Constitution | Constitution Center It was on this day in 1789 that the federal government started to operate under the terms of the U.S. Constitution, as the Confederation Congress ceded power. However, there was a major problem with the first session of the new Congress: not enough members showed up.

#OnThisDay in 1789, the Constitution officially goes into effect, marking the beginning of the new federal government under the framework we still follow today.

Learn more about the U.S. government’s start under its new Constitution: https://ow.ly/V7KI50Yn5Gh

Freedmen’s Bureau Bill, “An Act to establish a Bureau for the Relief of Freedmen and Refugees” (1865) | Constitution Center National Constitution Center Historic Documents Library record for Freedmen’s Bureau Bill, “An Act to establish a Bureau for the Relief of Freedmen and Refugees” (1865)

#OnThisDay in 1865, Congress passes the Freedmen’s Bureau Bill. The bill dramatically expanded federal authority and raised constitutional questions about confiscation.

Read it in the #FoundersLibrary: https://ow.ly/KNak50Yn5Ct

On this day, the Supreme Court speaks on the First Amendment | Constitution Center On March 3, 1919, the Supreme Court decided Schenck v. United States, the first in a line of major First Amendment cases to clarify the meaning of “free speech.”

#OnThisDay in 1919, #SCOTUS decides Schenck v. United States, the first in a line of major #FirstAmendment cases clarifying the meaning of free speech.

Read about how World War I shaped #FreeSpeech rights in America on #ConstitutionDaily: https://ow.ly/feTx50Yn5zX

On this day, the Missouri Compromise is approved | Constitution Center On March 3, 1820, Congress approved the Missouri compromise, a law that maintained a balance in the Senate between free and slave states. The pact only lasted 34 years, and its elimination was one of the contributing factors that led to the Civil War.

#OnThisDay in 1820, Congress approves the Missouri Compromise, which maintained a balance in the Senate between free & slave states.

The pact lasted 34 years & its elimination was one of the factors that led to the Civil War. https://ow.ly/2EEo50Yn5B3

Pocketwatch with bullet hole

#OnThisDay in 1863, Congress institutes the country’s first wartime draft to provide manpower to the U.S. Army. This bullet-struck pocket watch was carried by a Civil War soldier.

Collection of the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia on loan from Gettysburg Foundation

What was the Fort Wilson Riot?

Author Jesse Wegman tells the story of one of the most shocking attacks of the Founding Era on #AmericasTownHall.

Watch now: https://ow.ly/gXQa50Y0P2b

Gibbons v. Ogden: Defining Congress’ power under the Commerce Clause | Constitution Center On March 2, 1824, the Supreme Court ruled in Gibbons v. Ogden, holding that Congress may regulate interstate commerce.

#OnThisDay in 1824, #SCOTUS announces a landmark decision in Gibbons v. Ogden, the first major case in the still-developing jurisprudence about the interpretation of congressional power under the #CommerceClause.

https://ow.ly/2KRc50Yn5rp

Celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth! Explore the extraordinary lives of American women who transformed constitutional history with programs and resources for learners of all ages.

https://ow.ly/O39Y50Yn5lt

On this day, the Articles of Confederation are approved | Constitution Center On this day in 1781, the Articles of Confederation, our first constitution, became the official law of the land. It didn’t last a decade, for some obvious reasons.

#OnThisDay in 1781, the Articles of Confederation, the America’s first national constitution, becomes the law of the land—but it didn’t even last a decade.

Find out why with #ConstitutionDaily: https://ow.ly/pfmN50Yn5qU

Melvin Rogers explains Frederick Douglass’s famous “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July” speech on #AmericasTownHall for #BlackHistoryMonth.

Watch the full program: https://ow.ly/kxhr50Y8cZa

On this day: Term limits for American Presidents | Constitution Center On this day in 1951, the 22nd Amendment was ratified, limiting the number of terms served by the President. The move ended a controversy over Franklin Roosevelt's four elected terms to the White House.

#OnThisDay in 1951, the 22nd Amendment is ratified, limiting the number of terms served by the president—ending the controversy over Franklin Roosevelt’s four terms in the White House.

Learn more on #ConstitutionDaily: https://ow.ly/Rjb450YcsRX

Supreme Court Rules Trump’s Tariffs Unlawful Under IEEPA - Podcast | Constitution Center Podcast for Supreme Court Rules Trump’s Tariffs Unlawful Under IEEPA from the National Constitution Center

This week on #WeThePeoplePodcast, Julie Silverbrook explores the ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump with Zachary Shemtob of SCOTUSblog and Ilya Somin of George Mason University.

Listen now: https://ow.ly/iVLb50YmLh5

How one telegram helped to lead America toward war | Constitution Center On this day in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson learned of a shocking piece of paper that made America’s entry into World War I inevitable. And current research shows the Americans didn’t know everything German diplomats intended.

#OnThisDay in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson learns of a shocking piece of paper that made America’s entry into World War I inevitable, the Zimmerman Telegram.

Learn more on #ConstitutionDaily: https://ow.ly/pf0x50YcsN9

On Saturday, families joined together at the National Constitution Center for a Family Fun Night celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth. Storytelling, songs, art, and exhibit tours highlighted Black history, local Black artists, and Black-owned businesses.

Portrait of Hiram Rhodes Revels, America's first Black congressman, dressed in formal black suit against a blue background.

#OnThisDay in 1870, Hiram Rhodes Revels becomes the first Black person to serve in the U.S. Senate. #BlackHistoryMonth

Learn about Revel’s political career and the many obstacles he overcame to be elected:
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On #AmericasTownHall, Lucas Morel speaks about how David Walker stressed the right of revolution in his 1829 “Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World.”

#BlackHistoryMonth

Watch now: https://ow.ly/iyIi50Y8cJV

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Join University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Journal of Constitutional Law and National Constitution Center for a symposium exploring the historical and contemporary relevance of the grievance section of the Declaration of Independence.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/lRQP50YlwIU

Historian Thavolia Glymph explores the stories of women abolitionists fighting for suffrage for both Black Americans and women. #BlackHistoryMonth

Watch the full #AmericasTownHall: https://ow.ly/WVxG50Ycso0

Scott Cleary reflects on Thomas Paine’s “radical” ability to use shared literary culture to appeal to his readers and ensure his political points in ‘Common Sense’ were understood.

Watch #AmericasTownHall: https://ow.ly/uytl50YbX1v

The Souls of Black Folk (“Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others”) (1903) | Constitution Center National Constitution Center Historic Documents Library record for The Souls of Black Folk (“Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others”) (1903)

#OnThisDay, W.E.B. DuBois is born. Visit the #FoundersLibrary to read “The Souls of Black Folk,” written by DuBois in 1903. #BlackHistoryMonth

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