Good afternoon, everybody. So for the last six weeks in this class, weve been examining the political thought of the imperial crisis. That is, weve been looking at the debates between British Imperial officials and american whig patriots. And that debate has really in many ways come down to one issue which is, broadly speaking, what is the british constitution and how does it define relations between the mother country and her colonies . And more specifically even the real question is, what is the political constitutional relationship between the power and the authority of the British Parliament and americas colonial legislators . And over the course of about 12 years between 1764 and 1776, the British Parliament passed a series of laws. In 1764, it began with the sugar act and then a year later the stamp act and then in 176768 the townsend acts and then the tea act and then the coercive acts and then in 1775 the prohibittory act. But standing behind all of these acts of british legisl
That led to drafting the constitution. I want to talk about that. Lasttried to communicate week, the drafting of our institution, the history of its formation is extraordinary to say the least. Moment in allle of world history. We are here at 233 years later and our constitution is in the daily, being referred to as we almost speak here tonight, again and again. It isrticular aspect, but alive and well. To think about the fact this came together from a period of midmay until midseptember of 1787 is remarkable. Said the that we revolutionary war, and a lot of folks are not clear on the sequencing. It is important to note conflict began with lexington and concord and massachusetts in 1774. These very independent colonies, british colonies that operated with their own governments and their own leadership and support , suddenly had to come together and form a military alliance. It was not easy for them to do that. They had a lot of hesitation and concern about what it meant to be together.
Constitution. I want to just recap that quickly tonight as we start. As i tried to communicate last week, the drafting of our constitution, the history of its formation, is extraordinary to say the least. It is a remarkable moment in all of world history. We are here at 233 years later and our constitution is in the news daily, being referred to as we almost speak here tonight, again and again. In reference to one particular aspect of the constitution, but again, it is alive and well. To think about the fact this came together from a period of midmay until midseptember of 1787 is remarkable. We recall from last week that we said the revolutionary war, and a lot of folks are not clear on the sequencing. It is important to know that conflict began with lexington and concord and massachusetts in 1774. These very independent colonies, british colonies that operated with their own governments and their own leadership and so forth, suddenly had to come together and form a military alliance.
Resembles the country i left and you begin to wonder whether or not we might be just better off with two separate countries. Its not what i want. I feel a little bit like a skunk in that the garden party everyby talking about great president s and here im talking about a breakup but ultimately im not arguing for secession and its just the opposite. Its ate real threat and may be sarned up the volume of little bit. Host we are less united again any time since the civil war divided by politics, culture in all the ways that matter that make it the force of the law we are already divided into the two nations it seems like a fresh argument for secession. I think whats missing is a tolerance and understanding of people with varying different points of view. It. They are the bonds that still holds america together. Maybe its more than a long time in l the past we have a common culture. Its a culture if americans see each other in a foreign country in europe we recognize each other as american
Argue in this. Its a lot closer than we think in todays america. What you base that on . Guest i moved here from canada and went through all this before and i remember how would one point this was something that no one talked about and then a few years later we are having a referendum and nearly passes. Countryn a very divided , in many ways it resembles the country a left and you begin to wonder whether or not we might just be better off with two separate countries. Its not what i want. I feel a little bill of the skunk of the garden party. All these people talking about great president s and here i am talking of a breakup. Ultimately im not arguing for secession. Im saying its a real threat and we should think about that. Maybe turn down the volume a bit. Host a passage from your book, we are less united today than we have been at any time since the civil war divided by politics, religion and culture and all the ways that matter say for the naked force a law. We are already divided i