One Day University

Few documents in human history have been as momentous or as thoroughly studied as the American Constitution, but at its inception, the Constitution was far more democratic and pro-slavery than most citizens realize. An unprecedented number of people were allowed to vote on it, but it also created a warped electoral system that overrepresented America’s plantation class. The result? No president or cabinet member was openly anti-slavery until 1861. Beginning with the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, Professor Amar explores the surprising ways major events in American history have shaped the Constitution, from the settling of the West to the Vietnam War. He also explains why the founders thought it imperative that the president be 35 years old and a citizen from birth. Knowing the framers’ deep concerns about executive power and national security is key to a true understanding of the Constitution, and Professor Amar analyzes their relevance for the United States today.