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Articles by Dave Benner
Thomas Paine: A Lifetime of Radicalism
Although he has been called “The Father of the American Revolution,” Thomas Paine was perhaps the most unlikely man in the world to carry the torch of American independence. An Englishman who was once employed by the same king he grew to despise, Paine had been a failure in almost every aspect of life. His first wife died in labor, and his short-lived marriage to his second wife ended in separation within just three years.
Thomas Paine’s Return to America
Many people know Paine as the author of Common Sense, The Crisis, and The Rights of Man. Fewer know him as an unapologetic opponent of slavery, paper money, and aristocratic privilege. Fewer still know he spent considerable time in both England and France – escaping death sentences in both countries – and finally returned to America in 1802. As I point out in my book, Thomas Paine: A Lifetime of Radicalism, Paine left France in a dejected state.
James Madison’s Last Day in Office: Veto of the “Bonus Bill”
As his last official act as President, James Madison vetoed a bill that would provide federal funding for building roads and canals throughout the United States. Today in history – on March 3, 1817 – President James Madison vetoed the Bonus Bill of 1817 – a plan that called for the federal construction of various roads, bridges, and canals throughout the country. In a letter to Congress, the president explained his rationale.
Living in the World Hamilton Designed
Today [January 11] in 1757, it is generally believed Alexander Hamilton was born. As John Adams put it, he was “the bastard brat of a Scottish peddler.” Born out of wedlock on the British isle of Nevis, Hamilton would become one of the most influential political forces of his time. As a 14-year-old, Hamilton expressed interest in joining a military force to achieve prestige through warfare. “My ambition is prevalent that I contemn the groveling conditions of a clerk,” he wrote.
Today in History: Benedict Arnold Captures and Destroys Richmond
Today in history, on January 5, 1781, much of Richmond, Virginia was burned to the ground by a British naval force led by Benedict Arnold. It was his most significant military retort against his former cause, a devastating strike that followed his dramatic betrayal. Although Arnold engaged in some blunders in Quebec, he was also responsible for the monumental victory over “Gentleman” John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga, while Horatio Gates had received most of the credit for the victory.
Thomas Paine and Religious Liberty
In Thomas Paine’s day, no idea was more accepted than the idea that the church was inextricably connected to the state. In the 1700s, the concept had centuries of precedent in nearly all corners of the world, including England, France, and even America – where several states featured official religious establishments into the 19th century.
Today in History: Pennsylvania Ratifies the Constitution
Today in 1787, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the United States Constitution. The event was the culmination of a bitter fight in Philadelphia between delegates both for and against ratification in the state.
Thomas Paine, Execution Escape Artist
Americans generally remember Thomas Paine as the renowned writer of Common Sense, the most persuasive and popular case for American independence from the British crown. However, many may be unaware that the radical political agitator later returned to his native Europe, where his actions led him to be sentenced to execution in both England and France.
Today in History: Founding Father Hugh Williamson Born
On this date in 1735, Hugh Williamson, a remarkable founding-era figure from North Carolina, was born. Williamson’s name is seldom mentioned alongside the famous characters of his day, but his life was arguably as significant. He prophetically warned in 1774, before almost anyone else, that a harsh British retaliation against Massachusetts would produce a hostile and bloody affair.
Thomas Paine: The First American Whistleblower
In 2013, Edward Snowden’s revelations about the invasive nature of the American surveillance state raised many questions about state secrecy, the morality of state whistleblowing, and the role of government in general. What many don’t realize, however, was that the same dynamics were also at play during the American War for Independence, when Thomas Paine proved to be the first American whistleblower.
Thomas Paine, Abolitionist
As many of us realize, the political establishment of 2022 never passes up an opportunity to describe liberty-oriented ideas as “extreme,” and those who espouse them as “extremists.” Well, in 1774, there was nothing more extreme than a belief in the abolition of slavery. Nevertheless, before there was Common Sense and The Rights of Man, there was Thomas Paine the abolitionist.
Thomas Paine, Tax Collector?
What would you think if I told you that America’s banner-waver of the American Revolution – often described as a “tax revolt” – was actually a tax collector? Well, I don’t have to allege it, because it’s true. As I point out in my new book, Thomas Paine: A Lifetime of Radicalism, the future penman experimented with several commercial pursuits in England as a young man.
Today in History: James Wilson Delivers “State House Yard Speech” in Favor of the Constitution
On October 6, 1787, eminent Pennsylvanian James Wilson delivered his famous “State House Yard Speech” in support of the Constitution in Philadelphia. On the dawn of the first true test for the Constitution’s palatability, Wilson intended to explain how the Constitution was intended to be understood in the eyes of those who drafted the document the same summer.
Today in History: John Locke Born
Today history, on Aug 29 1632, political philosopher and theologian John Locke was born. Locke ranks as one of the most influential political philosophers and Enlightenment thinkers. His theories on natural law, social compact theory, property, psychology, monetarism, and republicanism have had a profound effect on the development of the western world.
James Iredell Born Today in History
Today in history, on Oct. 5, 1751, James Iredell was born. A brilliant figure of the founding era, he was a legal prodigy at an extremely young age, and played an integral role in North Carolina’s transition from colonialism to republicanism. Just prior to the American War for Independence, he penned the pamphlet called “To the Inhabitants of Great Britain,” which espoused his constitutional arguments against the British concept of Parliamentary sovereignty.
Review: Chaining Down Leviathan: The American Dream of Self-Government, 1776–1865 | Dave Benner
Home | Wire | Review: Chaining Down Leviathan: The American Dream of Self-Government, 1776–1865 How is it that America became a “strong but limited” government, and the world’s richest and most free country? That is the central question both considered and answered by Luigi Marco Bassani in his new work, Chaining Down Leviathan: The American Dream of Self-Government, 1776–1865. As an eminent scholar, Bassani has long studied the antebellum area, Amercia’s struggle between national vs.
Centralized Power as the Counterrevolution
A Review of Chaining Down Leviathan: The American Dream of Self-Government 1776-1865 How is it that America became a “strong but limited” government, and the world’s richest and most free country? And what has happened since? That is the central question both considered and answered by Luigi Marco Bassani in his new work, Chaining Down Leviathan: The American Dream of Self-Government 1776-1865.
Today in History: The Midnight Ride
Today in history, on April 18, 1775, the British military began to plan an expedition to seize the gunpowder store in Concord, Massachusetts. Encouraging patriot riders to alert locals to approach of British soldiers, the decision was a watershed moment in the struggle for American independence, and led to the first armed confrontation between the British crown and militia from colonial Massachusetts.
Thomas Jefferson Born Today in History
Today in 1743, Thomas Jefferson was born. A classical liberal that embraced decentralized power, Jefferson championed a distinctly American political philosophy during Virginia’s ascension to statehood, the creation of the United States, and throughout the remainder of his life. Undoubtedly, he was one of the most successful statesmen in the history of the country. Jefferson was a multi-faceted polymath. His mind was boundless, and he thrived in almost every realm he endeavored to pursue.
Today in History: James Madison Vetoes Infrastructure Spending Bill
By: Dave Benner|Published on: Mar 3, 2021|Categories: History, James Madison| Today in 1817, President James Madison vetoed the Bonus Bill of 1817 – a plan that called for the federal construction of various roads, bridges, and canals throughout the country. In a letter to Congress, the president explained his rationale. Out of all historical writings on constitutional interpretation, I believe it stands today as one of the most important.
Today in History: Treaty of Paris Ratified, Formally Ending War for Independence
Today in history, on January 14, 1784, the United States ratified the Treaty of Paris with Britain, bringing a formal end to the American War of Independence. Although few actual scuffles with the British had occurred since the 1781 Battle of Yorktown, the war officially dragged on for two additional years. By this time, exorbitant debts, paper money experiments, insolvency, bloodshed, and financial woes compounded the maladies facing the American states.
Today in History: Philadelphia and the Compromise of 1790
Today in 1790, Congress moved the seat of government from New York to Philadelphia. The transition was the product of a political compromise, a 10-year interim solution before the capitol would be moved to the South. The deal for the placement of the capitol was struck at a dinner party between Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
James Wilson’s State House Yard Speech: A Primer
On October 6, 1787, eminent Pennsylvanian James Wilson delivered his famous “State House Yard Speech” in support of the Constitution in Philadelphia. On the dawn of the first true test for the Constitution’s palatability, Wilson sought out to explain how the Constitution should be understood in the eyes of those who drafted the document that same summer.
Today in History: James Madison Vetoes “Bonus Bill” as Unconstitutional
By: Dave Benner|Published on: Mar 3, 2020|Categories: History, James Madison Today in 1817, President James Madison vetoed the Bonus Bill of 1817 – a plan that called for the federal construction of various roads, bridges, and canals throughout the country. In a letter to Congress, the president explained his rationale. Out of all historical writings on constitutional interpretation, I believe it stands today as one of the most important.
Today in History: John Taylor of Caroline was Born
Today in history, on Dec. 19, 1753, John Taylor of Caroline was born. As a prominent promoter of Thomas Jefferson and his political philosophy, he was a significant but underappreciated member of the founding generation. Among other accomplishments, Taylor was a prolific political writer who authored several books, served in the Continental Army with distinction, and became a state representative and United States Senator from Virginia.
Today in History: Treaty of Paris Signed, Formally Ending War for Independence
Today in history, on September 3 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, formally ending the American War for Independence. In 1781, a major victory was scored over the British at Yorktown by Continental Army commander George Washington, with considerable French support. British General Charles Cornwallis’ entire army was captured, and Britain was forced to suspend combat operations in North America.
Totally Dissolved: The Lee Resolution and the Declaration of Independence
Today in history, on July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed the Richard Henry Lee resolution, which called for ties between Great Britain and the American states to be “totally dissolved.” The monumental vote was unanimous among the colonies, with New York abstaining. Each state had one vote, regardless of size. Initially reluctant to support this measure, South Carolina pledged to join with the majority provided that there would be no dissent from a vote of independence.
Political Centralization Ended the Roman Republic | Dave Benner
Home | Wire | Political Centralization Ended the Roman Republic Those that passionately advocate for political decentralization are often portrayed as fringe carpers whose ideas are entirely unworthy of consideration.
Today in History: Enforcement of the Boston Port Act Begins
Today in history, on March 31, 1774, Britain began enforcement of the Boston Port Act, passed in response to the destruction of the tea a few months earlier. One of the Coercive Acts (or, as they’ve been called since, the “Intolerable Acts”), the law closed Boston harbor completely, preventing all shipping and loading of goods. The law required the people of Boston to furnish funds to pay for the destroyed tea.
What Did the Founders Mean by "Invasion"? | Dave Benner
Even by the middle of the 18th century, the English language lacked a widely-used set of standard definitions to English words. While English dictionaries existed, those that did were widely considered deficient for a variety of reasons.
Today in History: Thomas Jefferson Signs Law Banning Importation of Slaves
Today in history, on March 2 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed an Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, effectively abolishing the international slave trade. Having long condemned the slave trade as an unjust institution forced on the colonies by Great Britain, Jefferson made a scathing attack on this policy in his original draft of the Declaration of Independence.
Bradley Birzer's "In Defense of Andrew Jackson" ~ The Imaginative Conservative
Rather than justify Jackson’s deeds, Bradley Birzer’s “In Defense of Andrew Jackson” instead depicts its subject in the context of his own world. Whether one enters into its pages admiring or loathing Jackson, Dr. Birzer’s book is a must-read. In Defense of Andrew Jackson by Bradley Birzer (226 pages, Regnery History, 2018) Andrew Jackson, whom Davy Crockett famously mocked as “the great man in the white house,” occupies an entire epoch in American history.
Putting Old Hickory in Context: Bradley Birzer's "In Defense of Andrew Jackson"
Andrew Jackson, whom Davy Crockett famously mocked as “the great man in the white house,” occupies an entire epoch in American history. In almost every conceivable way, he was a classic paradox – a benevolent crusader to his friends, and a despotic tyrant to his enemies. As a soldier, he defended his country from British invaders, but prepared for the bloody invasion of an American state as the chief executive.
Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase
When we discuss the evolution of presidential power in early American history, it is sometimes alleged that the Louisiana Purchase was a particularly unconstitutional act and an example of presidential malfeasance. According to this line of reasoning, President Thomas Jefferson expanded the bounds of the presidency and betrayed his republican inclinations by favoring desired outcomes over executive restraint.
Today in History: Passage of the Lee Resolution for Ties with Great Britain to be “Totally Dissolved”
Today in History, on July 2 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed the Richard Henry Lee resolution, which called for ties between Great Britain and the American states to be “totally dissolved.” The vote was unanimous amongst the colonies, all of which had one vote regardless of size, with New York abstaining. Initially reluctant to support this measure, South Carolina pledged to join with the majority provided that there would be no dissent from a vote of independence.
Today in History: The Boston Massacre, a Pivotal Step on the Road to Independence.
Today in history, Mar. 5, 1770, a violent incident unfolded on Boston’s King Street, where an agitated group of colonists swarmed around a group of British regulars. This came to be known as the “Boston Massacre.” After a group of Bostonians uttered insults, threw snowballs, and dared the British to fire, several soldiers ultimately fired into the crowd.
Secession Hypocrisy: The Case of West Virginia
Many people know that the state of West Virginia came to be during the Civil War, but very few know that its admission to the union was particularly controversial. Even in the north, free from the influence of the departed southern states, many opposed Lincoln’s desire to admit West Virginia. Opposing Lincoln’s ultimate stance, those who offered candid deference to the Constitution considered Congress’ enabling act that admitted West Virginia as an unconstitutional usurpation.
Jefferson Was Right
I am writing in response to the recently posted piece at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, entitled “History proves Thomas Jefferson was wrong (whew).” The author of this article drastically overstates Madison’s role in the finalized Constitution.
Parchment Barriers: Not Enough to Stop Tyranny
There is a common tendency among those who doubt the value of the American constitutional system to attack the document on the basis that parchment barriers aren’t enough. Their premise is usually grounded upon the idea that constitutions are powerless to impose any practical limitations on government when effective enforcement is abandoned and civic virtue vanishes. As it turns out, I agree – and so did many of the American founders.
Nullifying the Stamp Act
By: Dave Benner|Published on: Feb 15, 2017|Categories: American Revolution, Nullification Every so often, a candid examination of current events makes famous incidents in American history altogether relevant yet again. Given the modern political landscape, in my mind no incident demonstrates this more than the Stamp Act Crisis of 1765. Few episodes in American history have so effectively demonstrated how to confront and end the enactment of malignant and unconstitutional laws.
Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince’: A Handbook for Totalitarians or a Guide for Thwarting Tyrants?
Perhaps the most committed Italian republican of his era, Niccolo Machiavelli left what many consider to be a horrendous legacy. This perspective most often results from the The Prince, by far his most famous work. This group generally considers The Prince as a handbook of totalitarian impulse, containing the secrets of power consolidation. Indeed, even the term “Machiavellian” is today used as a pejorative for cunning and deceitful rulers.
The Battle Over the First National Bank and Its Constitutional Implications
What does a political battle waged over a bank in 1791 mean for Americans living in modern times? Quite a lot, it turns out. In a recent paper, America’s First Great Constitutional Controversy: Alexander Hamilton’s Bank of the United States, Professor Charles J. Reid reexamines one of the earliest and most momentous constitutional battles in the United States history.
Hampton Roads: A Twist in the Lincoln Myth
According to the standard narrative maintained by the North, Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation brought about a new moral aim that justified a particularly bloody conflict. The act is often described as a device that would usher in a new age where angelic Northerners suddenly abandoned their racist past in favor of a fair, more equitable course for enslaved men.
Secession Hypocrisy: The Case of West Virginia
Many people know that the state of West Virginia came to be during the Civil War, but very few know that its admission to the union was particularly controversial. Even in the north, free from the influence of the departed southern states, many opposed Lincoln’s desire to admit West Virginia. Opposing Lincoln’s ultimate stance, those who offered candid deference to the Constitution considered Congress’ enabling act that admitted West Virginia as an unconstitutional usurpation.
Tenth Amendment Center
One of the greatest legal minds of the founding generation was also one of the most reserved and unobtrusive. On many levels, James Iredell differed from his peers. Outspoken Federalist from New York, John Jay, became the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Prominent Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph was selected by George Washington to be the first Attorney General. Patrick Henry, who was an incredibly effective lawyer, became known as one of the greatest orators of his time.
The American President: A Modern King
Citizens in the United States are usually proud of its constitutional system. After all, its conception of government was completely unique in the world, and Americans were responsible for creating written constitutions. Still, modern government largely throws the constitutional system to the wind, adopting a political atmosphere more consistent with a monarchy than a republic.
Letters of Marque and Reprisal: An Introduction
Several times during his tenure as a Congressman, Ron Paul suggested using letters of marque and reprisal to seize property and exact harm upon Osama bin Laden and other Al Qaeda officials. Offering a bill in October of 2001, Paul’s suggestion would have allowed: “Congress to authorize the President to specifically target Bin Laden and his associates using non-government armed forces.
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