Join host Wyatt McIntyre as he continues his journey deeper into the history of our great charter of individual rights, looking at the pure history behind this important declaration of our freedoms that was intended to guard our liberty, and see the battle within the government to see it fail even as soon as it was presented.

As promised, in this episode we take the Bill of Rights to the floor of the Congress for the reaction of those Representatives to James Madison’s proposal. A fight was brewing not just between the Federalists and the Antifederalists, but the interests and the agendas of politicians united for one reason or another in their opposition to what was being proposed. That's where we will begin.

For this episode of Fragile Freedom we are doing something a little different. Before our next episode on the Battle in Congress, we are going back to the source: James Madison's Speech which presents his Amendments to the House of Representatives. Join host Wyatt McIntyre in this extra long episode between episodes where he presents it in its entirety.

This week on Fragile Freedom we continue our ongoing series on the history of the Bill of Rights as the Father of the Constitution, a man who once argued that a Bill of Rights was unnecessary, presented his amendments to the body.

"I've labored hard all my days and fared hard. I have been greatly abused, have been obliged to do more than my part in the war." Abused until they could take no more, the Massachusetts farmers would rise up, and change the course of American history in Shays Rebellion.

Hosted by Wyatt McIntyre, the third part in the ongoing series on the history of the Bill of Rights, one of the three great charters of American Freedom. Sponsored by Tactical Dads, www.thetacticaldads.com

“I should arise and prepare myself, and slay my enemies with their own weapons.” Believing he was divinely ordained to lead his people from slavery that would be the declaration of Nat Turner. On August 22, 1831 he would lead a brutal slave rebellion that would leave a trail of blood in its wake. This is the story of Nat Turner's Rebellion.

“You can do as you please, I’m going to Lawrence” He would cry out before leading 400 men into the Kansas border town. Fueled by revenge, hatred and a desire for blood William Quantrill would ride his band of Missouri Bushwacker’s into Lawrence on August 21st, 1863. Unprepared for the attack the population watched as its citizens were murdered, homes were looted and businesses burned. This is the story of the Lawrence Massacre that would leave 164 dead in those dark days of the American Civil War

Hosted by Wyatt McIntyre, the second part in the ongoing series on the history of the Bill of Rights, one of the three great charters of American Freedom.

Even as Preston Brooks entered the Senate Chamber on May 22nd, 1856 few would predict the chain of events that he would set in motion, least of all him. A Southern Democrat representing South Carolina, he had heard of and read the speech made by Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner. It had publicly Andrew Butler, who was not only his state’s Senator, but also his cousin. Now he demanded retribution. Whereas he might have demanded a duel, it was, after all his first instinct, he was talked out of it by his fellow Congressman Laurence Keitt. This was, after all, a man below his station. He had proven, in his speech and the language he used, that point. Dueling him would be beneath Brooks. No, if he were to get satisfaction it would be by treating him like the slaves the Northern Abolitionist loved so dearly, and caning him. The events that would follow would become an iconic moment in American history and a turning point as Senator Sumner crumbled unconscious in a pool of his own blood on the floor of the Senate. Though he would recover from his injuries the nation would never be the same. In a sense Brooks would, through his actions, create a unity in the Republican Party that would create a national movement that would, in a few years’ time, deliver the White House to Abraham Lincoln as he set into motion events that would quickly sweep out of control. In a sense he would become the unwilling father of the party he so despised and a movement completely contrary to his nature and his ideology. This is the story of the caning of Charles Sumner….