As part of the upcoming Semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Dakota County Historical Society is offering a 14-part lecture series with educator and historian Frank Sachs. Each program is designed to explore a different aspect of our government, showing why it was set up that way and its impact on today. Learn more about the series or purchase tickets here.
Watch the Presentations:
The Road to Independence: The Declaration of Independence
Struggles with Self-Governance: The Failure of the Articles of Confederation
Inventing a Nation: The Constitutional Convention
Upcoming Presentations:
October 16, 2025 - Article I – The Legislative Branch: Power of the Commerce Clause
November 20, 2025 - Article II – The Executive Branch: Powers of the Presidency
December 18, 2025 - Article III – The Judicial Branch: Power of Judicial Review and a Look at Articles IV-VIII
January 15, 2026 - The Federalist Papers: Road to Ratification and How These Papers Helped Define the Constitution
February 19, 2026 - The Bill of Rights (Part 1): The Historical Origin of the First Ten Amendments to the Constitution
March 19, 2026 - The Bill of Rights (Part 2): How They Came to Protect Our Civil Liberties and Government Interference in Our Personal Lives
April 16, 2026 - Supreme Court from 1789 – 1986: Marshall, Taney, Warren, and Burger
May 21, 2026 - Supreme Court from 1987 to Present: Rehnquist and Roberts
June 18, 2026 - Voting Rights
July 16, 2026 - Representative Government
August 20, 2026 - The Electoral College