PODCAST · history
The American Founding with Jay Cost
by IFF
The American Founding is a new series by Jay Cost, PhD of the Institute for Faith & Freedom at Grove City College. Every Thursday at 7 p.m. EST, Dr. Cost will examine interesting and often unexplored parts of the story of how the United States laid the foundations for the freest country in the history of the world. The big ideas, the legendary personalities, the classic debates, the petty rivalries, and more! Look for episodes to appear later on your favorite podcast source!
Episodes
-
Episode 21: Why the Anti-Federalists Hated the Constitution
Federalists carried the day at the Pennsylvania ratifying convention in October 1787, but Antifederal arguments were spreading rapidly. Newspapers all across the country were publishing works by Antifederalists like Brutus, Centinel, and Federal Farmer. The battle between the two sides was going…
more -
Episode 20: Federalists Triumph in Pennsylvania
In this week's episode of The American Founding, Dr. Jay Cost examines the fight to ratify the Constitution in Pennsylvania. Federalist supporters of the Constitution pushed for an early convention to keep opposition from rising. Their gambit succeeded, as Pennsylvania became just the second…
more -
Episode 19: George Mason, the First Anti-Federalist
The Constitution received overwhelming support at the Constitutional Convention, but it was not unanimous. The most prominent opponent was George Mason of Virginia. A widely respected Revolutionary leader, Mason played a constructive role at the Convention, but ultimately could not bring himself…
more -
Episode 18: Novus Ordo Seclorum
On the back of the great seal is the Latin phrase, Novus Ordo Seclorum, or "new order of the ages." How exactly did the Constitution usher in this new order? What precisely was new about it? What was it supposed to look like? In this week's episode of the American Founding, we look at the...
-
Episode 17: The Misunderstood John Adams
This week's episode of The American Founding will look at John Adams. A brilliant but unconventional political thinker, his legacy is perhaps the most misunderstood of all the Founders. Condemned in his day as a turncoat against the republicanism of the American Revolution, Adams was in fact…
more -
Episode 16: Jefferson, the American Sphinx
In this episode of The American Founding, Cost examines the political thought of Thomas Jefferson. A brilliant and complex individual, Jefferson leaves a legacy of inconsistency. The advocate for individual liberty, he owned hundreds of slaves. A politician devoted to government frugality, he…
more -
Episode 15: Why Free Speech Is Essential to the Republic
The gruesome assassination of conservative Charlie Kirk yesterday is without precedent. Kirk was murdered in broad daylight merely for speaking his mind. Scores of his political opponents took to social media to cheer his untimely death, another sign of a culture that rejects the basic principles...
-
Episode 14: Washington – The First Man of the Republic
This episode will look at the political theory and social status of George Washington. Remembered by Henry Lee as, "First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen," Washington occupied an ambiguous place in the nation. For here was a country premised on social and political...
-
Episode 13: The Mad Genius of Alexander Hamilton
In this episode of the American Founding, Dr. Cost will take a close look at the political theory of Alexander Hamilton. The author of most of the Federalist essays, Hamilton nevertheless did not participate at the Constitutional Convention nearly as much as James Madison, Gouverneur Morris, or...
-
Episode 12: Federalism
On this episode of the American Founding, Dr. Cost discusses how the Constitution lays out the concept of federalism, or power sharing between the state and national governments. The states were granted an important but ambiguous role in the early Constitution, and it would be up to later...
-
Episode 11: Checks and Balances
In this episode of the American Founding, Dr. Cost explores the system of checks and balances that runs through the Constitution. It was not enough that the branches of government be separate from one another. Each must have the ability to defend itself from encroachments on its power. To develop...
-
From the Vault: "Why the Constitution Matters"
By popular request ... the first episode of the original Constitutionally Speaking! In this inaugural episode, Jay and his co-host Luke Thompson discuss "Why the Constitution Matters." Look for more of these old episodes in coming weeks and months!
-
Episode 10: What's Up with the Electoral College?!
In this episode of the American Founding, Dr. Cost breaks down the Electoral College. A subject of a great deal of contemporary criticism, the Electoral College is perhaps the most misunderstood part of the Constitution. The Framers created it as an institution to place the president above the...
-
Episode 9: The Compromise over Slavery
In this episode of the American Founding, Dr. Cost examines the compromise of slavery forged at the Constitutional Convention. While most delegates understood on an intellectual level that slavery was incompatible with a free republic, all were willing to compromise on the issue. Thus, the...
-
Episode 8: The Essential Senate
In this episode of the American Founding, Dr. Cost discusses the "Great Compromise" at the Constitutional Convention that led to the United States Senate. The delegates at the Convention decided on a House apportioned by population while each state would have an equal share in the Senate. This...
-
Episode 7: The Lay of the Land at the Constitutional Convention
In this episode of the American Founding, Dr. Cost gives an overview of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, starting with a look at the Virginia Plan. Drafted mainly by James Madison, this plan envisioned a bold national government — but would the other delegates agree? Dr. Cost goes on to...
-
Episode 6: James Madison, The Man with the Plan
In this episode of the American Founding, Dr. Cost introduces the "Man with the Plan" — James Madison. This unassuming son of a Virginia planter would emerge in 1787 as the most brilliant political philosopher the Founding generation would have. His plan? Go big. The way to save the United States...
-
Episode 5: The Crisis of the 1780s
On this episode of the American Founding, Jay examines how the Articles of Confederation failed to hold the country together in the 1780s. By the middle of the decade, it was clear to many nationalists that the Articles were a bad system of government. And when Daniel Shays and his Regulators…
more -
Episode 4: What's So Bad about the Articles of Confederation?
This episode will look at "America's Mulligan," the Articles of Confederation. The first system of government in the United States, the Articles lasted from 1777 until 1789. They are largely remembered as a failure. Yet in creating this system of government, the Americans were drawing upon the...
-
Episode 3: English Liberty in America
This episode explores the English tradition of political liberty in colonial America. Drawing on hundreds of years of English experiences, the Americans expected a government of limits, which respected the civil rights and property rights of its subjects. When George III and the English…
more -
Episode 2: Republicanism in America
This episode explores why the United States in 1776 well uniquely suited to a republican form of government. Freed from the constraints of European medievalism, the Americans were free to create a society more egalitarian than any the western world had seen.
-
Episode 1: Why the Founding Matters
In this inaugural episode of the American Founding with Jay Cost, Dr. Cost argues that the American Founding remains of continuing importance. Those of us who defend the Constitution against those seeking radical change need to understand what the arguments the Founders made in defense of the...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The American Founding is a new series by Jay Cost, PhD of the Institute for Faith & Freedom at Grove City College. Every Thursday at 7 p.m. EST, Dr. Cost will examine interesting and often unexplored parts of the story of how the United States laid the foundations for the freest country in the history of the world. The big ideas, the legendary personalities, the classic debates, the petty rivalries, and more! Look for episodes to appear later on your favorite podcast source!
HOSTED BY
IFF
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The American Founding with Jay Cost have?
The American Founding with Jay Cost currently has 22 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The American Founding with Jay Cost about?
The American Founding is a new series by Jay Cost, PhD of the Institute for Faith & Freedom at Grove City College. Every Thursday at 7 p.m. EST, Dr. Cost will examine interesting and often unexplored parts of the story of how the United States laid the foundations for the freest country in the...
How often does The American Founding with Jay Cost release new episodes?
The American Founding with Jay Cost has 22 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The American Founding with Jay Cost?
You can listen to The American Founding with Jay Cost on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The American Founding with Jay Cost?
The American Founding with Jay Cost is created and hosted by IFF.
URL copied to clipboard!