What do you know about the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution?
Caitlin Galante-DeAngelis Hopkins, a Lecturer in the History Department at Harvard University and a former research associate for the Harvard and Slavery Project, joins us to explore the origins of the Eleventh Amendment and why the United States added it to its Constitution.
About the Show
Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.
It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.
Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.
Ben Franklin’s World is a production of the Omohundro Institute.
Episode Summary
The Eleventh Amendment revised Article 3, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. It states that an inhabitant of one state cannot sue another state nor can a foreign citizen bring a lawsuit against any state.
Why was such an amendment necessary? Caitlin Galente-DeAngelis Hopkins, a Lecturer in the History Department at Harvard University and a former research associate for the Harvard and Slavery Project, joins us to explore the origins of the Eleventh Amendment and why the United States added it to its Constitution.
What You’ll Discover
- The Eleventh Amendment
- William Vassall
- The Vassall Family and their use of the British American legal system
- Lawsuit against a Harvard Tutor
- Neutrals and loyalists during the American Revolution
- How a foreign citizen brought a lawsuit against Massachusetts
- Massachusetts works against William Vassall’s lawsuit
- The origins of the Eleventh Amendment
Links to People, Places, and Publications
- Harvard and Slavery Project
- Caitlin on Twitter
- BFW Virtual Reading Group
- Ben Franklin’s World Listener Community on Facebook
Sponsor Links
Complementary Episodes
- Episode 107: Mary Sarah Bilder, Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention
- Episode 143: Michael Klarman, The Making of the United States Constitution
- Episode 259: American Legal History & the Bill of Rights
- Episode 260: Creating the First Ten Amendments
- Episode 261: Creating the Fourth Amendment
- Episode 262: Interpreting the Fourth Amendment
Questions, Comments, Suggestions
Do you have a question, comment, or suggestion?
Get in Touch! Send me an e-mail, tweet, or leave a comment.
Listen!
Enjoy the Podcast?
Why Not Listen regularly through one of these apps?
| 
Ratings & Reviews
If you enjoy this podcast, please give it a rating and review.
Positive ratings and reviews help bring Ben Franklin's World to the attention of other history lovers who may not be aware of our show
Click here to rate & review on iTunes | Click here to rate & review on Stitcher
