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Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755 on lots o’ platforms) Profile picture
@jbf1755
Aug 25, 2020 • 6 tweets • 1 min read • Read on X
170,000+ dead Americans.
Attacking peaceful protestors in front of the people’s house.
Bowing down to dictators and scorning foreign allies.
Impeachment.
Encouraging foreign interference in American elections and attacking national sovereignty.
Turning Americans against each other during a crisis.

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More from @jbf1755

Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755 on lots o’ platforms) Profile picture
Oct 22
1/ Fine.
Let's look at 1798.

The US was in a "quasi-war" with France.
Not a full war.
But the US was semi-preparing.

And Federalists--in power & not so comfy with democratic politics--passed the Alien & Sedition Acts.
2/ In a time of war, the Federalists argued, they could deport dangerous "aliens" if necessary. "Aliens" would have to register their presence.

And it would be illegal to criticize political leaders.
Nothing like a quasi-war to quash the opposition press.
3/ Never comfortable with the more democratic direction that the new nation was heading, and with a presidential election in the wings, the Federalists saw the Quasi-War as a chance to bank on fear of foreign attack.

But guess what?
Read 9 tweets
Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755 on lots o’ platforms) Profile picture
Apr 10
1/ Some basic context concerning presidential immunity.

The Revolution that created this nation was against a monarch—and monarchy.

Tyrannical executive power was a central—even THE central—concern of the revolutionaries.

They distrusted it.
2/ When newly created states created their first constitutions during the Revolution, most of them reduced the power of their governor.

Why?
Distrust of executive power.
3/ The first US government created during the revolution—the Articles of Confederation—had NO national executive.

Why?
Distrust of executive power and a desire to leave much power within the states.
Read 5 tweets
Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755 on lots o’ platforms) Profile picture
Jul 4, 2023
A John Adams moment on your July Fourth -- which has become a Thomas Jefferson kind of day, rather than a John Adams kind of day.
Adams tho't he'd never get credit for his Revolution work. In 1790, he said:

The History of our Revolution will be one continued Lye from one End to the other. The Essence of the whole will be that Dr Franklins electrical Rod, Smote the Earth and out Sprung General Washington.
Adams on not getting credit for his Revolution work, continued:

He thought people would think that: Franklin smote the earth & out sprung Washington, who Franklin "electrified...w/his Rod, & thence forward these two conducted all the Policy Negotiations Legislation & War."
Read 6 tweets
Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755 on lots o’ platforms) Profile picture
Jun 28, 2023
OK.
I've been holding off on this for a bunch of reasons, but it feels as tho it's time.

Many of you may know of the wonderful early American historian Richard Bernstein (R. B. Bernstein).

A prolific writer, a dedicated teacher, a generous colleague, and the truest of friends.
He just died--unexpectedly.
I'll write an obituary soon, but for now something more personal.

Richard was the most kind-hearted person I've ever known. He wanted his friends to thrive. He wanted his historian friends to thrive & produce great scholarship.

He loved it all.
He was a brilliant scholar--with a truly AMAZING understanding of the founding period and "the guys" as he & I called them. (The Founders).

He was brilliant.
But he was modest.
He simply loved studying, writing, and teaching about the founding period.
Read 13 tweets
Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755 on lots o’ platforms) Profile picture
Jun 9, 2023
1/Being indicted and tried for alleged crimes is due process under our judicial system.

Trump deserves a fair trial.

But to call for warfare against this process is to declare war against America’s constitutional system.
2/Endorse Trump.
Vote for him.
Support him.
Campaign for him.
Whatever you like.

But he can’t commit (alleged) crimes with no accountability.

And these are serious crimes that put our nation in jeopardy.
3/Presidents do not have unlimited power.

They never have.

The Constitution ensures that.

It balances power.

Which is why public servants swear to support it.
Read 6 tweets
Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755 on lots o’ platforms) Profile picture
Mar 3, 2023
A Short Thread

1/ This proposed bill is about intimidating & silencing people--bloggers--who want to critique the governor or state officeholders.

I won't call it fascism--which it is--because the word has no meaning for some.

Instead, let's look at the 1798 Sedition Act...
2/ The Sedition Act of 1798, passed by the Federalist-controlled nat'l government, made it a crime for US citizens to "print, utter, or publish... any false, scandalous, and malicious writing" about the government."

"Scandalous" and "malicious" are NOT specific terms.
3/ People charged with violating the Sedition Act included people who spoke ill of President Adams.

Federalists said publicly that they were protecting the reputation of the government in time of (quasi)war.

Privately, they gleefully discussed silencing the Republican press.
Read 4 tweets

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