Constitution Day 2009
An Historic Year for the Nation
"Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents."
Obama, Barack H. "Inauguration Speech."
Washington, D.C., 20 Jan. 2009.
This year the University of Washington honors the 222nd anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution and celebrates both the inauguration of our nation's first African American President, Barack Hussein Obama, and its first Latina Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor.
When the constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, the only people with voting rights were white male property owners. President Obama’s road to this historic election was not easily travelled. Some of the challenges our nation has encountered in the ongoing quest to live into the promise of “equal rights for all” are outlined in President Obama’s campaign speech on race relations delivered from the Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Join us to Read the Constitution!
You are invited to join us in celebrating this landmark year in our Nation’s history by reading the Constitution with us beginning at noon on Friday, October 9 in Suzallo Library. Come to listen and learn!
Want to participate? See what's involved with being a reader and then sign-up to be one.
Current Books
UW Common Book
This year the University of Washington selected Barack Obama’s Dreams of My Father as the Common Book, which invites readers to share part of his unique family journey. » More information about the Common Book
African-American History
Michelle Obama is herself the descendant of slaves, a labor force that built the home she now occupies as First Lady. A fascinating place to learn more about this history is by reading Jesse J. Holland’s book Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington, D.C.
Constitutional History
On September 17, 1787 the Constitution of the United States of America was finalized and signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation that had proved unsuccessful. The Articles of Confederation gave the federal government limited powers, leaving the states with a considerable amount of control regarding matters such as finance, defense and trade. George Washington described the existing government under the Articles of Confederation as “little more than the shadow without substance.” Without the ability to sufficiently regulate commerce, impose taxes and enforce laws, the federal government was functioning on a depleted treasury. Inflation and economic strife contributed to Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts. » Read more about the history of the Constitution