“...will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens…”
America 250: July 28th
On July 28, 1794, the French were still executing authoritarians. French Revolution figures Maximilien Robespierre and Louis Antoine de Saint‑Just were beheaded on this date, and it’s said that the event was widely covered as part of US interests.
One year earlier – almost exactly – on July 27, 1793, from history.gov:
“Robespierre was elected to the Committee of Public Safety, which was formed in April to protect France against its enemies, foreign and domestic, and to oversee the government. Under his leadership, the committee came to exercise virtual dictatorial control over the French government. Faced with the threat of civil war and foreign invasion, the Revolutionary government inaugurated the Reign of Terror in September. In less than a year, 300,000 suspected enemies of the Revolution were arrested; at least 10,000 died in prison, and 17,000 were officially executed, many by guillotine in the Place de la Revolution. In the orgy of bloodshed, Robespierre succeeded in purging many of his political opponents.”
It came to a head in June 1794, when Robespierre was almost unanimously “elected” president of the National Convention, which passed a law six days later to suspend the right to public trials and legal assistance.
“In just a month, 1,400 enemies of the Revolution were guillotined.” – History.gov
Careful what you wish for.
“...simply declaratory of what I regard as the law of the land already…”
Speaking of rights, on July 28, 1868, Secretary of State William Seward certified the 14th Amendment as part of the US Constitution.
Contrary to modern popular opinion, this amendment was not intended to create the “magic soil doctrine” that we have today. From the amendment’s debates in Congress at the time:
“This amendment … is simply declaratory of what I regard as the law of the land already … Every person born within the limits of the United States, and subject to their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States. This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the Government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons.” – Senator Jacob M. Howard of Michigan, May 30, 1866. US Senate debates on the 14th Amendment. [Library of Congress]
This one is coming back around in the courts in 2025, so it’s important to how contentious this season was in American history.
Thomas Nast was a pivotal figure during this time, and we owe him a debt for his political cartoons — and their usefulness and deconstructing the propaganda baked in Civil War history.
For more on Nast and his work, this is a short cool video looking at another cartoon by Nast.
Nast will come up repeatedly in future updates because I find his work so valuable. Think of him as a 19th Century Ben Garrison.
“... I am now compelled to draw the sword to safeguard the honor of my Monarchy…”
A couple other notable events that distanced us from the founding ethos of our nation occurred on July 28. In 1914, Austria‑Hungary declared war on Serbia – the beginning of World War I – via a diplomatic note.
"The Royal Government of Serbia not having answered in a satisfactory manner the note of July 23, 1914, the Imperial and Royal Government finds itself compelled to proceed to safeguard its rights and interests, and to have recourse to force of arms."
– Official Declaration of War by Austria-Hungary, July 28, 1914 [Source]
The same day, Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph issued a statement to his people as war was declared.
His statement was widely published in newspapers:
"It was my earnest wish to spare my peoples the sacrifices and burdens of war. Guided by the same sentiments I have exhausted every means to induce the Government at Belgrade to respect the obligations binding upon it. In vain. Serbia has rejected the just and moderate demands of my Government, and has refused to stop its criminal intrigues. I am now compelled to draw the sword to safeguard the honor of my Monarchy."
– Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph Public Statement, July 28, 1914 [Source]
Exactly 31 years later, in 1945, a US Army B‑25 bomber crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building in New York City. 14 people died.
The building held up, so I guess jet fuel didn’t have the ability to melt steel bars until the 21st century.
Finally, happy birthday to my amazing husband!
Thank you Ashe - and a happy birthday to your husband!
Another good dig. We are waiting for the SCOTUS to make clear for all, who is a natural born citizen. If Ben Franklin got it right presented to our founding fathers. And further understood as you found for us, later. Thanks for Nash, will be looking in the future .And Birthday wishes to your husband.