Reconstruction's Constitutional Legacy with Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries

08/14/24 • 20 min

The Reconstruction era following the American Civil War sought to redefine the place of newly freed African Americans in society and align Constitutional promises with reality. History Professor Hasan Kwame Jeffries of The Ohio State University joins host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey to discuss contested visions for post-war America among different groups, the impact of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, and efforts to disenfranchise Black voters despite Constitutional protections.
Dr. Jeffries provides historical context on how progress made during Reconstruction was systematically undermined and discusses the tensions between the letter and spirit of Constitutional amendments.

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Constitutional Change: Articles V and VII with Dr. Beau Breslin

Articles V and VII of the U.S. Constitution outline the amendment and ratification process. Host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey is joined by Skidmore College Political Science Professor Dr. Beau Breslin to discuss the two pathways for amending the Constitution and the high bar for making changes. This episode also touches on the importance of the Constitution's preamble, its evolution during the drafting process, and how it might be different if written today.

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Global Impact of the U.S. Constitution

In this first episode of a special three-part mini-series, host Dr. Katie Crawford Lackey of the Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier explores the global impact of the U.S. Constitution. Funded by Virginia Humanities and produced in collaboration with the Presidential Precinct, this series highlights the experiences of Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Mandela Washington Fellows. Featuring an interview with Professor Heinz Klug, a South African constitutional scholar, the episode delves into the complexities of constitution-building, the importance of context in drafting constitutions, and the role of public participation in shaping democracy. Klug shares insights from his involvement in South Africa's post-apartheid transition, discussing the challenges of balancing diverse stakeholder interests and the necessity of "constructive ambiguity" in constitutional language. Gain valuable perspectives on the fundamental principles and challenges of creating effective governance structures in different cultural and historical contexts.