American politics certainly has a lot of controversies, and a main reason for that is the way the American Constitution is structured. Professor Jonathan O’Hara will explore the newly created Constitution of 1787, why it was thought needed, and four of the big political controversies it tackled upon its creation. These early controversies—slavery, the creation of a national bank, neutrality, and the Alien and Sedition Acts—have much to teach us about our own contemporary Constitutional struggles. This program is presented in partnership with the Hannah Benedict Carter Chapter, NSDAR.

Jonathan O’Hara is an associate professor of Political Science at Southern Connecticut State University. He specializes in political philosophy and teaches Constitutional Law and History. He lives in Orange, Connecticut with his wife, son, and Standard Poodle.