American Founding

Unlocking Constitutional Meaning: James Wilson as the Key

Profs. John Mikhail and Jonathan Gienapp join Garrett Snedeker and Hadley Arkes to discuss the life and work of James Wilson, one of the American Founders. They point out how Wilson’s ideas and jurisprudence shaped the discussion at the Founding and how understanding them can help us understand our Constitution today.

The Classical and Christian Origins of American Politics

JWI, with our co-sponsors, the Center for Religion Culture and Democracy at First Liberty Institute, and the Civitas Institute, present this webinar. The webinar featured Justin Dyer and Kody Cooper discussing their upcoming book on the natural law influences of the American Founding. We were also joined by Jordan Ballor, in addition to a surprise

In Defense of Common Good Originalism

Contributing Editor Josh Hammer defends against criticism of his Common-Good Originalism essay, arguing that ambiguities in the text’s meaning require us to give precedence to substantive ideals in interpretation.

PODCAST: Prof. Michael D. Breidenbach on “Our Dear Bought Liberty: Catholics and Religious Toleration in Early America”

Associate Professor and Chair of History at Ave Maria University and Senior Affiliate for Legal Humanities at the Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society at the University of Pennsylvania Michael D. Breidenbach joined JWI Deputy Director Garrett Snedeker to discuss Prof. Breidenbach’s new book Our Dear Bought Liberty: Catholics and Religious Toleration

Anchoring Truths
Anchoring Truths is a James Wilson Institute project
The James Wilson Institute’s Mission is to restore to a new generation of lawyers, judges, and citizens the understanding of the American Founders about the first principles of our law and the moral grounds of their own rights.
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