A fraternity born from rebellion and forged in the fires of war
In short: In 1848, a group of students staged a snowball protest against their university president. The resulting expulsion led to a secret society founded in a dormitory on Christmas Day. From those six men emerged an organization that would eventually produce presidents, astronauts, and some of the highest military honors in history.
Phi Delta Theta was born out of the 'Great Snowball Rebellion' of 1848 at Miami University. After students from Beta Theta Pi and Alpha Delta Phi blocked administrative buildings in protest, the university president expelled most participants. The following day after Christmas, six men—known as 'The Immortal Six'—formed a secret society to cultivate friendship, mental culture, and morality. To avoid immediate punishment, they kept their activities sub rosa for three years and even took the unusual step of splitting into two chapters at Miami and Centre College to remain inconspicuous.
The fraternity’s growth was marked by significant administrative milestones. The 1851 convention established a Grand Chapter in Cincinnati, while the 1868 Indianapolis Convention created a national administrative plan. By 1880, another Indianapolis meeting solidified modern rituals and insignia while creating the General Council. During the American Civil War, the fraternity faced internal strife as brothers fought on opposing sides: 50 Phis served with the Confederacy while 231 joined the Union Army.
The organization's legacy is defined by high-profile service and social evolution. It produced fifty generals and admirals during World War II, including figures like Admiral John S. McCain Sr. and General Edward P. King. Notably, members received every major military decoration in both U.S. and British Commonwealth forces. Socially, the fraternity was a pioneer in civil rights; despite having a restrictive 'Aryan blood' clause added in 1910, it became one of the first fraternities to eliminate all racial and religious restrictions by 1954, following years of intense internal debate.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Phi Delta Theta
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