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Beyond the Founders: How Ordinary Americans Built a Government

Beyond the Founders: How Ordinary Americans Built a Government

Update: 2025-05-28

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In this episode, host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey interviews historian Dr. Peter Kastor about how America's founding generation transformed constitutional ideals into functioning government institutions. Learn about the challenges faced by early federal leaders, the overlooked contributions of thousands of ordinary civil servants, and how this formative period established enduring traditions of public service and constitutional governance.

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Beyond the Founders: How Ordinary Americans Built a Government

Beyond the Founders: How Ordinary Americans Built a Government

The Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution