Modern politics is contentious, complex, and frequently frustrating. Yet the system of checks and balances still largely operates just as the framers of the Constitution intended.

This evening seminar shows how the American system was designed to prevent a repeat of British tyranny, especially the British civil war and Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate. By reconnecting to our political heritage, we can make sense of why the framers chose complexity.

6:45 to 7:45 p.m. The English Civil War: Cromwell vs. the Crown

English politics changed dramatically during the tumultuous years of Charles I. Cromwell, the key figure in this period, was the liberator for his role in Parliament’s victory over the king and as dictator during the interregnum. His twin roles gave American leaders much to ponder in Philadelphia as they revised the Articles of Confederation.

8 to 9 p.m. Cromwell’s Legacy: The Framers and Complexity

Convinced that an American Cromwell lurked behind every crisis, the framers drafted a Constitution designed to prevent a dictatorship. What were the mechanisms they devised to protect us from a replay of the English civil war?

Charles Cushman is the associate dean of the Graduate School of Political Management, George Washington University.