reform

In response to the War of 1812 and perceived federal overreach, delegates from New England states met at the Hartford Convention and proposed a series of constitutional amendments. The proposals sought to limit the power of Congress by requiring two-thirds approval for new states, declarations of…

In this speech, Henry David Thoreau defends abolitionist John Brown after his failed raid on Harpers Ferry. Thoreau portrays Brown as a principled man who acted on moral conviction to oppose slavery. He criticizes public opinion, the press, and political leaders for condemning Brown while…