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With the ink barely dried on the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson ignited a debate over government power that continues today. Jefferson championed states’ rights and individual liberties, while Hamilton pushed for a strong Federal government and a powerful executive. This ongoing tug-of-war has shaped many pivotal moments in American history, including Abraham Lincoln’s fight against slavery and southern secession, the expansion of federal power under Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, and Ronald Reagan’s and Donald Trump’s push to cut government regulation. More than ever, this clash of ideals defines the debate over whether modern presidents are subverting the Constitution—the very threat to American democracy that both Hamilton and Jefferson were determined to avoid.
Join Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, for a discussion of the enduring battle to define the balance between liberty and power.
This program will be hosted in-person at the League House. Autographed copies of The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America will be available for purchase during the reception. Registration is required.
Reception: 6:00pm
Program: 6:30pm
End of Program: 7:30pm
Streaming: Unless requested otherwise by the speaker, Founding Forward programs are streamed via YouTube. Click here to find the livestream (live at 6:30pm the day of the event). Virtual viewing does not require registration.
Speaker:
Founding Forward’s Library Hours are humanities-based programs that focus on a variety of topics including history, art, architecture, science, and travel. These programs focus on authors and recently published books.
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