Conversation with Lucas Swineford | America's Written Constitution

Nobody who opposed independence in 1776 held national office again. Opponents of the Constitution in 1788 became presidents, vice presidents, and justices. Akhil Reed Amar explains the difference. Lucas Swineford, executive director of Yale's Office of Online Education and Digital Dissemination, opens this discussion segment with a question about reach: how long did it take for the rest of the world to register what had happened in America. Amar answers that the effect took centuries but the ambition was there from the start, quoting the Declaration's appeal to a candid world, Benjamin West's report of George III's reaction to Washington's plan to disband his army, the opening of Federalist 1, and James Wilson's July 4, 1788 address. He tracks the slow arc through the French Revolution, the failed reforms of 1848, and Lincoln's "last best hope of earth." The second half turns to political forgiveness, using Federalist 2 and its Shakespearean "band of brethren" to argue that shared service in the Revolution made constitutional disagreement survivable, and that the Bill of Rights functioned as a face-saving offer that brought Rhode Island, North Carolina, and men like James Monroe back in. Chapters: 00:00 How the third segment works 01:45 How fast did the news actually travel 03:17 What George III said about Washington 04:54 Federalist 1, and the world's verdict on democracy 07:29 The French Revolution, and the reforms that failed 08:30 Lincoln: the last best hope of earth 10:02 How James Monroe came back 12:36 Federalist 2 and the band of brethren 16:42 Bringing Rhode Island and North Carolina in 19:21 Lessons for today Learning objectives: After watching, you'll be able to: - Describe how quickly and by what means the American example reached the wider world - Explain why loyalists were permanently excluded but Anti-Federalists were not - Interpret Federalist 1 and 2 as appeals to a watching international audience - Analyze the Bill of Rights as an instrument of political reconciliation - Assess what the ratification settlement suggests about how majorities should treat minorities 📺 Watch the full playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCq6-l8oFuvk 🎓 Enroll on Coursera for assessments and a certificate: https://www.coursera.org/learn/written-constitution 🌐 Explore more learning opportunities on Yale Online: https://online.yale.edu/courses/americas-written-constitution