John Adams

Early Americans conscripted the universe into their nation-building project.

Why John Adams was peculiarly unsuited to the moment.

Why I’ve made it my mission to teach others about Prince Hall.

From Alexander Hamilton to Richard Nixon and more: meddling, fixing, rigging, fraud, and violence.

Court packing obscures more than it reveals about the current debate over the size of the Supreme Court.

Lessons from 1800.

The story of the democratic movements that the framers of the U.S. Constitution feared and sought to suppress.

On early American attempts to kick out foreigners.

A new book persuasively argues that the Federalists’ attempt to squash opposition and the free flow of ideas was even more nefarious than we thought.

When Washington left the presidency, he didn’t really leave politics at all.

Power comes before freedom, not the other way around.

Discussions of admissions to élite colleges are built around the idea that somewhere around the next bend is the right way to do it.

Father and son alike, suspicious of too much charisma.

“John Marshall...exhibited a subservience to the executive branch that continues to haunt us.”

Why the statesmen of the Roman Republic had such an influence on the patriots of the Revolutionary era.

Even America's founding document isn't immune to the powers of polarization.

To make a more perfect union, don’t look to the Founding Fathers.

Restricting the press backfires politically.

How memory plays tricks with history.

Other presidents used their anger for a purpose — Trump just rages blindly.