History of the United States I / Unit 8 USH1 1085 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Captions available
The idea
Madison wrote Virginia's resolution and Jefferson wrote Kentucky's, in seventeen ninety-eight.
In practice
Both arguing that the national government's authority was limited to powers expressly granted by the Constitution.
Where people slip
Both asserted that states could declare federal laws unconstitutional and null and void, which is the doctrine of states' rights in its first full statement.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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