First Principles Journal - All Content

Roots of Freedom: The Constitution

John W. Danford — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:00:00 GMT

by John W. Danford
Was the American cause for independence a radical rupture from England, with the U.S. Constitution being a new and novel development, or was independence and the following constitutional order a continuation of Western precedent? Or was it a mix of the two? Read the following piece by John W. Danford to get a sense of how this question might be answered, and how America’s Constitution allows for modern liberty. . . .

Wedemeyer, General Albert C.

Keith E. Eiler — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:00:00 GMT

by Keith E. Eiler
Lifespan: (1896–1989)

A career army officer, General Albert C. Wedemeyer came to prominence in the era of World War II as a strategic planner on the War Department General Staff ...

Arms Control

David W. Skubik — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:00:00 GMT

by David W. Skubik

Arms control has long been a national concern. But since the end of the Second World War and beginning of the Cold War, arms control has been intimately linked to ...

The Higher Law and “Original Intent”: The Challenge for Conservatism

Charles R. Kesler — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

by Charles R. Kesler
Is there a “higher law” on which the rule of law depends? In this classic essay from the ISI archives, Charles R. Kesler considers “higher” and “natural law” in the context of the Constitution, the role of judges, and judicial review. . . .

Oliver, Revilo P.

Charles Scott Hamel — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

by Charles Scott Hamel
Lifespan: (1910–1994)

Professor of classics at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and a founding member of the governing council of the John Birch Society, founded in 1958, Revilo P. ...

We Read the Constitution

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

When one considers the rule of law in the American context there ought to be a real interest in the country’s Constitution. But how many modern Americans have actually read this document?

On Saturday, September 18, the number of Americans who have read, or reread, the Constitution will certainly increase. . . .

Douglas, Stephen

Ashley Cruseturner — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

by Ashley Cruseturner
Lifespan: (1813–1961)

Known as the “Little Giant,” a reference to his physical stature (he was 5’4” tall), Stephen Douglas represented a generation of enormously talented statesmen who ultimately proved unable ...

Davis, Jefferson

Carey Roberts — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

by Carey Roberts
Lifespan: (1808–1889)

Planter, military officer, congressman, senator, secretary of war, and president of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis served as the premier defender of the Southern conservative, or ...

The Rule of Law and the Law of Nature

Russell Hittinger — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

by Russell Hittinger
The rule of law is essential to a free society. But is the rule of law self-standing, independent from any other standard or source? If not, upon what does it depend? Russell Hittinger addresses these very questions in the following piece, which examines the influence of a “higher law” in the American experience, beyond the immediate civil society and its discourse. . . .

Diversity

Barry Bercier — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

by Barry Bercier

As we learn from The Federalist, the American political system is predicated on the flourishing of a multitude of diverse groups or factions, each freely assuming responsibility for itself, each ...