James Madison. James Madison (1751–1836), the chief author of the Bill of Rights and thus of the First Amendment, was the foremost champion of religious liberty, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press in the Founding Era. Did the Founding Fathers wrote the First Amendment? The Founding Fathers wrote […]
George Washington’s second inaugural address remains the shortest ever delivered, at just 135 words. Fellow Citizens: I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. Which president gave the shortest and longest inauguration speeches? John Adams’ Inaugural address, which totaled […]
Thomas Jefferson. When Thomas Jefferson penned “all men are created equal,” he did not mean individual equality, says Stanford scholar. When the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, it was a call for the right to statehood rather than individual liberties, says Stanford historian Jack […]
The rank of colonel is typically above the rank of lieutenant colonel. The rank above colonel is typically called brigadier, brigade general or brigadier general. In some smaller military forces, such as those of Monaco or the Vatican, colonel is the highest rank. What are the military ranks in order? […]
Here are 8 presidents who actually saw combat in a big way: Andrew Jackson (War of 1812, Indian Wars) William Henry Harrison (War of 1812, Indian Wars) Zachary Taylor (War of 1812, Indian Wars, Mexican-American War) Franklin Pierce (Mexican-American War) Ulysses S. Rutherford B. Theodore Roosevelt (Spanish-American War) How many […]
Speaking of professional speakers, one of the Founding Fathers who wouldn’t be one would be Thomas Jefferson! Although he was very intellectual, wise, and erudite, he was not a good speaker. Was Thomas Jefferson a good speaker? He was “an ineffective and anxious speaker, a whisperer who on occasion feigned […]
A succession of English thinkers was at the forefront of early discussion on a right to freedom of expression, among them John Milton (1608–74) and John Locke (1632–1704). Locke established the individual as the unit of value and the bearer of rights to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of […]
Yet for every Washington or Adams, there is a Thomas Jefferson — a president who was such a bad public speaker that he declined to deliver a State of the Union address to Congress, instead beginning a century-long tradition of sending congressional members a letter — or a George W. […]
It is not a conference, but rather a group of NCAA Division I basketball schools who compete for the city’s collegiate championship. What d1 colleges are in Philadelphia? Division I Team School City Saint Joseph’s Hawks Saint Joseph’s University Philadelphia Temple Owls Temple University Philadelphia Villanova Wildcats Villanova University Villanova […]
Harrison delivered the longest inaugural address to date, running 8,445 words. He wrote the entire speech himself, though it was edited by soon-to-be Secretary of State, Daniel Webster. Who gave the shortest inauguration day speeches? George Washington’s second inaugural address remains the shortest ever delivered, at just 135 words. How […]
“All too will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression. What was […]
Thomas Jefferson, a spokesman for democracy, was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and the third President of the United States (1801–1809). What is Thomas Jefferson famous for writing? Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. Did Thomas Jefferson write […]
Jefferson spent his post-presidential years at Monticello, where he continued to pursue his many interests, including architecture, music, reading and gardening. What was a hobby of Thomas Jefferson? He was an architect. Aside from his Monticello home, which took him nearly 40 years to complete, Jefferson was obsessed with building […]
His eyes were variously described by family, friends, employees, and others as blue, gray, “light,” hazel, and combinations thereof. An examination of Jefferson’s life portraits does not clarify the issue; he is variously depicted with blue, hazel, and even brown eyes. Which presidents had blue eyes? Eye color might be […]
We have Jefferson’s unique taste to thank for popularizing some of the most beloved foods in American culture—think ice cream, mac ‘n’ cheese and even french fries. While it’s untrue that Jefferson invented ice cream, his obsession with serving the frozen treat at dinner parties greatly popularized it in America. […]