How to Protect Shipping Routes without Shredding the Constitution

Mar 28, 2025

29:32

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Defending ocean trade routes doesn’t require shredding the Constitution. When French warships were seizing hundreds of American vessels, President John Adams didn’t panic. He followed the Constitution – deferred to Congress over a dozen times – and still got the job done. In this episode, learn the forgotten – and completely ignored – history behind war powers and the Constitution, and how it all played out in the so-called Quasi-War with France.

Path to Liberty: March 28, 2025

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Show Archives

Maharrey – War Powers: The True History of John Adams and the Quasi-War with France

John Adams – Address to a Joint Session of Congress on Relations with France (16 May 1797)

John Jay – Charge to the Grand Jury, the Circuit Court for the District of Virginia (22 May 1793)

An Act to prevent citizens of the United States from Privateering against nations to amity with, or against citizens of the United States (14 June 1797)

An Act providing a Naval Armament (1 July 1797)

John Adams – First Annual Address to Congress (22 Nov 1797)

John Adams – Special Message to Congress (19 Mar 1798)

An Act to establish an Executive department, to be denominated the Department of the Navy (30 Apr 1798)

James McHenry – Letter to Alexander Hamilton (12 May 1798)