Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Location: Zoom Virtual Lecture
Time: 7:00 pm (EDT)
The United States Constitution was ratified in 1789; however, the document’s meaning has not always been clear.
This is because many debates over constitutional interpretation were settled during the Constitutional Convention. Sometimes our nation’s founders did not agree on constitutional meaning. Other ties, the Constitution’s ambiguity comes from our country facing contemporary issues that the founders never would have imagined.
Dr Francene Engel, Scholar for the Maryland Council for Civics and History Education, returns to HA to present Part II of “Major Developments in American Constitutional History.” She will continue to explore the major events in history that shaped the document’s meaning and affected the trajectory of our constitutional democracy. Emphasis will be on the development of judicial review through landmark cases and examination of the evolution of the due process clauses of the 5th and 14th Amendments.
HA is pleased to be a Foundational Friend of the Maryland Council for Social Studies (MDCSS) and are partnering with them to present several programs focusing on the United States Constitution. Joey Landgraf, President-elect of MDCSS, will be cohosting and will share the efforts of this educational organization.
The Historic Annapolis 2025 Virtual Lecture Series is offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. If you enjoy this program, we hope you will consider becoming a member or making a donation today to support Historic Annapolis and our mission to connect all people with our shared history.
Can’t watch live? All lectures will be recorded. Please register and you’ll receive the link to watch the recording after the event.
Cost: FREE
About Our Presenters:
Dr. Francene Engel received her PhD in political science from the University of Southern California. She has taught courses in American constitutional law, civil rights and liberties, constitutional theory, women and the law, and American government at the University of Maryland, the University of Michigan, Baylor University, and the University of Southern California. She was also a Fulbright Scholar teaching in Poitiers, France.
Dr. Engel has worked in civic and history assessments, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress Exam in Civics. She has served as a civics education consultant for the Maryland State Department of Education, Virginia Civics, James Madison’s Montpelier, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Educational Testing Services, the American Institutes for Research, and the Center of Civic Education.
She enjoys the challenge of making complex constitutional issues understandable to everyone.
Joey Landgraf is the President-Elect for Maryland Council for Social Studies. This school year, he is embarking on a new adventure as he will be a social sciences teacher at Aberdeen High School in Harford County Public Schools. Previously, Joey taught AP Government and AP Psychology at North County High School in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Joey is a 2015 James Madison Fellow from Maryland and also won Promising New Social Studies Teacher of the Year from MDCSS in 2019. He has previously served on the board of MDCSS as an At-Large Member. In his free time, he enjoys fantasy football, pub trivia, golf, hiking, and wrangling his toddler daughter.
The information contained in the HA Virtual Lecture series represents the historical research, views and opinions of the lecture presenter and may not represent the views or opinions of Historic Annapolis, Inc.