Event at Park University's Constitution Day to Highlight Film Advocating Unconventional Interpretation of the U.S. Constitution
On Monday, Sept. 27, Park University will be hosting a special event to commemorate Constitution Day. The screening will take place in the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater inside Alumni Hall on the University's Parkville Campus.
The event will feature the documentary "Confounding Father: A Contrarian View of the U.S. Constitution," which offers a unique perspective on the creation of the U.S. Constitution. This two-hour documentary tells the story of the Constitutional Convention from the viewpoint of the anti-federalists, who were wary of centralized federal power and feared that the new Constitution could lead to tyranny or undermine individual liberties.
The film challenges the traditional, often federalist-dominated, interpretation of the Constitution’s origins by providing insight into the dissenting voices at the founding. By focusing on these contrarian views, the film facilitates a timely reconsideration of how the Constitution was drafted and the political conflicts that shaped its final form.
Luther Martin, a Maryland delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, is featured in the film. Martin opposed the continuation of the slave trade and the three-fifths clause, and he also feared the unlimited taxing power of the national government and thought many framers of the U.S. Constitution were seeking an American empire.
Admission to the event is free and open to the public. The documentary will start at 3 p.m.
Constitution Day, or Citizenship Day, is a federally mandated celebration for all institutions of higher education receiving federal funding. The legislation enacting Constitution Day was passed in 2004, and the implementation of the celebration was carried out by the U.S. Department of Education in 2005.
In addition to the screening, Constitution Day also honors those who have become U.S. citizens. It is a significant celebration for both the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and citizenship.
By hosting this event, Park University aims to encourage viewers, especially students, to critically analyze the Constitution’s history and the balance of power envisioned by its framers. The documentary provides educational value in helping viewers understand the complexities and contested nature of the Constitution’s framing.
We hope you can join us for this enlightening and thought-provoking event. For more information, please visit the Park University website or contact the Office of Student Activities.
Attendees of the event at Park University on September 27 can expect to delve into the complexities of the U.S. Constitution's creation, as the screening of the documentary "Confounding Father" offers a unique viewpoint on the Constitutional Convention through learning about the anti-federalists' perspectives. By encouraging critical analysis and self-development through education, this event effectively honors Constitution Day and Citizenship Day's aim of fostering a deeper understanding of the Constitution's history and the balance of power envisioned by its framers.
