On this day in 1965, the historic third Selma to Montgomery march begins, led by Martin Luther King, Jr. First, here are some words from his address at the conclusion of the march a few days later: “Let us march on ballot boxes until all over Alabama God’s children will be able to walk the earth in decency and honor. There is nothing wrong with marching in this sense. The Bible tells us that the mighty men […]
On this day in 1751, James Madison is born in Conway, Virginia. He was a key drafter of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, as well the recorder of the Constitutional Convention. Accordingly, Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution.” Furthermore, he was a key author of the Federalist Papers. Finally, Madison served two terms as the fourth President of the United States, from 1809 to 1817. For all these towering achievements, James Madison […]
On this day in 1845, Florida, nicknamed the “Sunshine State” becomes the twenty-seventh state in the Union. First, here’s the the Preamble of the Florida Consitution “We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, in order to secure its benefits, perfect our government, insure domestic tranquility, maintain public order, and guarantee equal civil and political rights to all, do ordain and establish this constitution.” We/our Additionally, […]
On this day in 1931, President Herbert Hoover signs a congressional act making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official national anthem of the United States. On September 14, 1814, during the War of 1812, American attorney Francis Scott Key was detained aboard a British ship in Baltimore Harbor where he witnessed the massive overnight British bombardment of Fort McHenry. Seeing the American flag still flying in the morning inspired him to write his poem, the “Defence […]
On March 2, 1793, Sam Houston is born in Virginia. The celebrated liberator of Texas and the first president of the Republic of Texas made it clear that Texas was to become part of the United States. Sam Houston served for 14 years as a U.S. senator, where he argued for Native American rights. His antislavery beliefs did not align with the southern ideology of Texas, so he resisted secession from the Union during the […]
On this day in 1781, the Articles of Confederation are ratified. This document guided the United States until it was replaced by the Constitution in 1789. The Revolution brought Americans from living under a sovereign king, to living in sovereign states, to becoming a sovereign people. Providentially, all of this happened over the course of just two decades. This transformation was the fruit of the collective effort to “secure the Blessings of Liberty.” This government was founded […]
On this date in 1870 Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, is sworn into the U.S. Senate, becoming the first African American to sit in Congress. His father was a Baptist preacher, and in 1845, Revels became an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. “The logical sequence” Here is a powerful portion of the first speech Hiram Rhodes Revels gave to the Senate on March 16, 1870: “Mr. President, I maintain that […]
On this day in 1801, Vice President Thomas Jefferson is elected the third president of the United States. His running mate and eventual opponent was the infamous Aaron Burr. A tie vote in the Electoral College and 35 indecisive ballot votes in the House of Representatives preceded Jefferson’s election. “With all these blessings” Thus, Thomas Jefferson shared this at his first inaugural address on March 4, 1801 “Let us, then, with courage and confidence pursue […]
On this day in 1809, Abraham Lincoln is born in Hodgenville, Kentucky. Despite growing up a member of a poor family in Kentucky and Indiana, Lincoln became one of America’s most admired presidents. “A new birth” Regarding another form of birth, you have likely heard this quote from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: “this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, […]
On this day in 1865, Abraham Lincoln’s 56th birthday, Rev. Dr. Henry Highland Garnet was the first African American to address the U.S. House of Representatives. Garnet, a former slave himself, was a pastor of the 15th Street Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. His sermon commemorated the victories of the Union army and the deliverance of the country from slavery. Notably, President Lincoln arranged for the special Sunday service. “From foundation to dome” Here’s an […]
On this day in 1861, President-elect Abraham Lincoln leaves his home in Springfield, Illinois bound for Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, his belongings, including his Bible, did not arrive in time for his inauguration. So, William Thomas Carroll, the clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court, provided a bible that he kept for official use, which went on to become what we know as the “Lincoln Bible,” and the design inspiration for one of Our t-shirts. Find yours […]