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When moderates ruled: A history of the U.S. Constitution at WCSU

DANBURY, Conn. — Western Connecticut State University History professor and author Dr. Kevin Gutzman will deliver a lecture on “Moderates Triumphant: The Philadelphia Convention of 1787” at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, in Warner Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St., Danbury.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Gutzman is the author of the best-selling “James Madison and the Making of America,” and “Thomas Jefferson — Revolutionary,” as well as three other books and numerous articles. Gutzman has appeared on C-SPAN’s “Book TV,” CNN and Fox News, and is a frequent guest on national radio programs. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and received a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.

Gutzman argues that Virginians George Washington and James Madison went to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 “planning to propose a radically centralizing constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation.” Instead, he says, “the Philadelphia Convention produced ‘pork still with a little change of sauce,’ in Alexander Hamilton’s words — a stronger central government, yes, but still one with limited powers.”

“Moderate delegates such as Connecticut’s Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth triumphed in shaping the new government,” Gutzman says.

Gutzman’s lecture is sponsored by the office of the Dean of the Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences and the WCSU Department of History.

For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

 

 

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