LECTURE

New York Institute of Technology
What Would the Founding Fathers Think of America Today?

The 1786 Constitutional Convention: What Really Went On?

Carol Berkin / Baruch College

Most of us know that America's Founding Father's attended the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia and drafted the Constitution of the United States. The delegates decided to replace the Articles of Confederation with a document that strengthened the federal government, with the most contentious issue being the apportioning of legislative representation. Two plans were presented: the Virginia plan, favored by the large states, apportioned representatives by population or wealth; the New Jersey plan, favored by the small states, provided for equal representation for each state. A compromise established the bicameral Congress to ensure both equal and proportional representation.

But a lot more happened as well - much of it underreported or misunderstood. That's the focus of this insider's look at the birth of American Government as we know it today.

Carol Berkin is Presidential Professor of History at Baruch College and a member of the history faculty of the Graduate Center of CUNY. She has worked as a consultant on several PBS and History Channel documentaries, including, The "Scottsboro Boys," which was nominated for an Academy Award as the best documentary of 2000. She has also appeared as a commentator on screen in the PBS series by Ric Burns, "New York," the Middlemarch series "Benjamin Franklin" and "Alexander Hamilton" on PBS, and the MPH series, "The Founding Fathers." She serves on the Board of The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the Board of the National Council for History Education.

Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton: If They Could Only See Us Now

James Morone / Brown University

Over the past ten years, the United States has endured a stark economic crisis, fierce partisan political battles, remarkable changes in the global political environment, and a historic presidential election unlike any other - ever! During this time, there has been a great deal of debate as to whether these actions are in line with the U.S. Constitution and the intent of those who founded our nation.

In this unique first-time-ever class, we will address these debates with a specific focus on the writings of key founders such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin and our first president, George Washington. What would these men say about the federal bailouts, Obamacare, the size of our financial institutions, immigration, the national debt, same-sex marriage, gun violence, and U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts?

James Morone is the John Hazen White Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Brown University. He has won the Best Teacher award at Brown University five times. Professor Morone has published ten books and over 150 articles, reviews, and essays. His "Hellfire Nation" was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and named a top book of the year by both Christianity Today and Playboy Magazine. Professor Morone also comments frequently on political issues for shows like The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, The BBC, C Span, NPR's Market Place, and others.