Each September, Constitution Day marks the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.
But beyond celebration, this commemoration invites deeper reflection: Whose voices helped shape this foundational document? And who was imagined as part of the political community it created?
In honor of Constitution Day and Constitution Month, we’re revisiting a pivotal conversation from Episode 339 with constitutional historian Mary Sarah Bilder.
Drawing from her book, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/113555/9780813947198">Female Genius: Eliza Harriot and George Washington at the Dawn of the Constitution,</a> Mary challenges us to reconsider who influenced the Constitution and how women publicly engaged with its political possibilities. Join us as we explore: Eliza Harriot’s advocacy for “female genius” and intellectual equality. Why the Constitution’s gender-neutral language mattered. And, the debates over representation, education, and citizenship in 1787Mary’s <a href="https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/law/academics-faculty/faculty-directory/mary-sarah-bilder.html">Website</a> | <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/113555/9780813947198">Book</a> |Show Notes:<a href="https://benfranklinsworld.com/339"> https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/339</a> RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES🎧 <a href="https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/107">Episode 107: Madison's Hand</a>🎧 <a href="https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/137">Episode 137: The Washingtons' Runaway Slave, Ona Judge</a>🎧 <a href="https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/255">Episode 255: Birthright Citizens</a>🎧 <a href="https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/259">Episode 259: American Legal History & the Bill of Rights</a>🎧<a href="https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/285"> Episode 285: Elections & Voting in Early America</a>SUPPORT OUR WORK🎁 <a href="https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/donate">Make a Donation to Ben Franklin’s World</a>REQUEST A TOPIC📨 <a href="https://bevel-gateway-5e2.notion.site/16f6cac043688089901ce4d81da9fe8d">Topic Request Form</a>📫 <a href="mailto:liz@benfranklinsworld.com">liz@benfranklinsworld.com</a>WHEN YOU'RE READY<a href="https://ben-franklins-world.kit.com/34291a0536">🗞️ BFW Gazette Newsletter </a>👩‍💻 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/benfranklinsworld">Join the BFW Listener Community</a>LISTEN 🎧🍎 <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ben-franklins-world/id946895107">Apple Podcasts </a>💚 <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2oghPc2yt6aLqQHVTBs8tZ">Spotify</a> 🎶 <a href="https://www.audible.com/podcast/Ben-Franklins-World/B08K56H676">Amazon Music</a><a href="https://www.pandora.com/podcast/ben-franklins-world/PC:232">🛜 Pandora</a>CONNECT🦋 <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/lizcovart.bsky.social">Liz on Bluesky</a>👩‍💻 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizcovart/">Liz on LinkedIn</a>🛜 <a href="https://www.lizcovart.com/">Liz’s Website</a>SAY THANKS💜 <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ben-franklins-world/id946895107">Leave a review on Apple Podcasts</a>💚 <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2oghPc2yt6aLqQHVTBs8tZ">Leave a rating on Spotify</a>*Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

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