Jesse Wegman

William Ewald, a legal scholar at Penn who unearthed James Wilson’s constitutional role, and Jesse Wegman, author of The Lost Founder, discuss Wilson’s central contributions to the Constitution. They trace his Committee of Detail work, ties between the Declaration and the Constitution, Scottish Enlightenment influences, the Fort Wilson riot, and how his ideas about popular sovereignty resonate today.

Jesse Wegman, a legal journalist and author of The Lost Founder, dives into the life of James Wilson, an often-overlooked founding father. He discusses Wilson's commitment to popular sovereignty and his pivotal role in the Constitutional Convention. William Ewald, a legal scholar from the University of Pennsylvania, adds scholarly insight, highlighting Wilson's influence on key constitutional provisions and the political upheaval he faced. Their conversation sheds light on Wilson’s lasting impact on modern democracy and democratic self-government.