Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: James Mc Henry
James McHenry was born in Ireland in 1753. He acceded to positions of authority in Maryland and in the national government. [1 min. 2 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: John Francis Mercer
John Francis Mercer studied law under Thomas Jefferson. He opposed a strong central government and opposed ratification of the Constitution. [1 min. 5 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Elbridge Gerry
Today we learn about Elbridge Gerry, the Framer of the Constitution who gave the English language the term "gerrymander." [1 min. 29 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Nathaniel Gorham
Today's Framer is Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, who played an important role in the Philadelphia Convention as a delegate from Massachusetts. [1 min. 2 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Rufus King
One of the youngest delegates to the Philadelphia Convention, Rufus King spoke eloquently and argued for a stronger national government. He has an extensive political resume. [1 min. 17 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Caleb Strong
Caleb Strong served as a senator and governor of Massachusetts and was an ardent supporter of the Constitution. He was a delegate from Massachusetts in the Philadelphia Convention. Learn about Strong on today's podcast. [1:27]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Nicholas Gilman
Nicholas Gilman was a Framer of the Constitution from New Hampshire. He worked to ensure ratification of the document in New Hampshire. [1 min. 7 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: John Langdon
One of the two delegates to the Constitutional Convention from New Hampshire, John Langdon had little education, but made his mark in Revolution-era America. [1 min. 11 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: David Brearly
David Brearly was an avid patriot and a Framer of the Constitution from New Jersey. [1 min. 9 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Jonathan Dayton
Jonathan Dayton joined the army after college and was plunged directly into the Revolutionary War. He was later the youngest signer of the Constitution as a delegate from New Jersey. [1 min. 9 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Rise of the Nation State Part 1
In today's episode, we begin to discuss the rise of the nation-state in the 16th and 17th centuries. [1 min. 27 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: William C. Houston
Happy Independence Day! Today we learn about William C. Houston, a Framer of the Constitution from New Jersey. [1 min. 1 sec.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: William Livingston
William Livingston was a Framer from New Jersey. He served in the Continental Congress and as governor of the state. [1 min. 14 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: William Paterson
William Paterson was born in Ireland. His parents emigrated to America and he became an influential Framer of the Constitution and Supreme Court justice. [1 min. 4 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was one of the most brilliant men to attend the Philadelphia Convention, but he played a relatively small role there. [1 min. 25 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: John Lansing Jr.
John Lansing Jr. opposed the proposed Constitution because he believed the Articles Confederation should simply have been amended. He worked against ratification in New York. [1 min. 3 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Robert Yates
Robert Yates was a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention from New York. He believed that the convention had exceeded its authority so Yates left the convention early. [1 min. 2 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: William Blount
William Blount, a Framer of the Constitution from North Carolina, went on to become a senator from Tennessee and was expelled for planning an invasion of Spanish territory. [1 min. 9 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Richard Dobbs Spaight Sr.
Richard Dobbs Spaight was only 29 when he attended the Philadelphia Convention and looked forward to a successful political career. His life was cut short, however, when he was killed in a duel at the age of 44. [1 min. 9 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Hugh Williamson
Hugh Williamson was a very active delegate to the Philadelphia Convention from North Carolina. He served as a surgeon general for North Carolina. [1 min. 7 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: William R. Davie
William R. Davie founded the University of North Carolina and was a Framer of the Constitution. [1 min. 8 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Rise of the Nation State Part 2
Today we discuss nation-states and ideas about government and rights. The rise of nation-states led to modern government ideas. [1 min. 19 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Alexander Martin
Alexander Martin, a delegate of the Philadelphia Convention, was aquitted of the charge of cowardice after the Battle of Germantown, but it didn't hurt his political career. [1 min. 12 secs.]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Benjamin Franklin
Inventor, scientist, diplomat, publisher - and that was just the beginning. Benjamin Franklin was justifiably one of the most famous Americans to attend the Philadelphia Convention. [1 min. 17 secs.]