Daniel Sheridan

30 items

103, 2022

America’s First Constitution – By Daniel Sheridan

#OTD, March 1, 1781, the Continental Congress adopted America’s first Constitution – The Articles of Confederation. Our experiences under these articles were necessary, inspiring the creation of a “more perfect union” under our current Constitution. Here’s the story. Americans had enough of King George’s tyranny, so they declared their independence. However, tearing down an oppressive system is one thing but putting something better in its place is another. The Continental Congress gave the task to John Dickinson, and Congress edited his draft. Congress thought Dickinson’s product gave too much power to a central government, which they were in no mood [...]

1802, 2022

The Story of Presidents’ Day – By Daniel Sheridan

"To the memory of the Man, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." These are the words of Henry Lee upon the death of our first President, George Washington. Americans throughout the 1800s, cherishing those words, unofficially and spontaneously celebrated the Father of their Country's birthday every February 22, his actual birthday. President Rutherford B. Hayes, in 1879, signed a law making the day an official holiday, and it became a national federal holiday in 1885, known simply as Washington's Birthday. The holiday has changed in two ways since President Hayes signed it [...]

102, 2022

Sir Edward Coke – By Daniel W. Sheridan

On February 1, 1552, Sir Edward Coke was born. What he did matters to you.   Three types of oppression drove the English to the New World: political, religious, and economic. Political oppression, however, led to the most significant amount of resistance in England. The Stuart Monarchs bullied the courts, forcing the judges to do their bidding. Chief Justice Coke, believing Monarchs are not above the law, courageously withstood King James the First, who, as a result, angrily dismissed the just judge. Justice Coke told the king that the common law bound him, and tyrants never like words [...]

3101, 2022

The Land of Lincoln and the Thirteenth Amendment – by Daniel W. Sheridan

 Listen Now! #OTD, January 31, 1865, Americans make amends as Congress passes the Thirteenth Amendment, consistently applying the words of the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal.”  I was sharing with my daughter the story of the Thirteenth Amendment since my home state played a significant role in its passage. Illinois instructed its congressional delegation to vote for the Thirteenth Amendment, and President Abraham Lincoln signed it on February 1st. Then the amendment went to the States for ratification. The amendment reads, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party [...]

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