The Constitution, Jefferson’s War on Pirates, and Trump’s Strikes on Suleimani1: Historical and Modern Applications of the Commander-in-Chief’s War Power

Abstract

This article is a guided inquiry into past and present uses of war powers. From the Constitutional framers’ intent through Thomas Jefferson’s adaptation to modern presidents’ implementation, students extract meaning from the best available evidence. Evocative primary sources—some of which are contemporaneous to modern readers—and engaging secondary sources ground the inquiry. Discipline-specific scaffolding directs students to assemble a reasoned, informed, civic-minded conclusion, which they communicate to distinct audiences.