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5 unusual facts about Title of Nobility Clause


Title of Nobility Clause

According to Lee, the true purpose of the clause was merely to protect popular tradition: "The fact appears to be, that the people in forming the confederation, and the convention . . . acted naturally; they did not leave the point to be settled by general principles and logical inferences; but they settle the point in a few words, and all who read them at once understand them.

James Madison, a member of the House of Representatives, would have none of it.

In 1810, Senator Philip Reed of Maryland proposed an amendment to the constitution that would require any American who received a title of nobility or honor from a foreign government without Congressional consent to relinquish their citizenship.

Vice President John Adams called the senators' attention to this pressing procedural matter.

In Federalist No. 22, Alexander Hamilton stated, "One of the weak sides of republics, among their numerous advantages, is that they afford too easy an inlet to foreign corruption."



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