The United States Constitution by
The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation uses the art of illustrated storytelling to breathe life into our nation's cornerstone principles. Simply put, it is the most enjoyable and groundbreaking way to read the governing document of the United States. Spirited and visually witty, it roves article by article, amendment by amendment, to get at the meaning, background, and enduring relevance of the law of the land. (Description from publisher)
The Annotated U. S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence by
Here in a newly annotated edition are the two founding documents of the United States of America: the Declaration of Independence (1776), our great revolutionary manifesto, and the Constitution (1787–88), in which “We the People” forged a new nation and built the framework for our federal republic. Together with the Bill of Rights and the Civil War amendments, these documents constitute what James Madison called our “political scriptures” and have come to define us as a people. Now a Pulitzer Prize–winning historian serves as a guide to these texts, providing historical contexts and offering interpretive commentary.
(Description from publisher)
The Bill of Rights in Modern America by
This newly revised and expanded edition of The Bill of Rights in Modern America captures the contentious national debate about the nature and extent of our individual rights. Free speech, the separation of church and state, public safety and gun control, property rights, the rights of criminals and victims, the limits of law enforcement, the death penalty, affirmative action, the right to privacy, abortion, states' rights -- the Bill of Rights has been evoked as the legal basis for every one of these issues. Twelve distinguished legal scholars discuss the history of and the current debates on these and other important rights issues in a book that is certain to stimulate thoughtful discussion among all citizens. (Description from publisher)
The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution by
The United States Constitution is the basis for our most fundamental rights as Americans and has been a key element in nearly every major legal and political debate ever argued. But how many of us actually understand the language used by our Founding Fathers? Now Linda R. Monk, an award-winning author and journalist, takes us through the Constitution, line by line, to help us comprehend this amazing document and to see the variety of ways in which it has been interpreted.
The Summer Of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution by
This book takes us into the sweltering room in which delegates struggled for four months to produce the flawed but enduring document that would define the nation. George Washington presided, James Madison kept the notes, Benjamin Franklin offered wisdom and humor at crucial times. At different points, more than half of the delegates threatened to walk out, and some actually did. It was a desperate balancing act. Revolutionary principles required that the people have power, but could the people be trusted? Would a stronger central government leave room for the states? And what of slavery? The supercharged debates over America's original sin led to the most creative and most disappointing political deals of the Convention. In a country continually arguing over the document's original intent, it is fascinating to watch these powerful characters struggle toward consensus. (Description from publisher)
A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution by
Revealing that the story of that amazing summer in Philadelphia is more complicated and much more interesting than we have imagined, Carol Berkin makes you feel as if you were there, listening to the arguments, getting to know the framers, and appreciating the difficult and critical decisions being made. Using history as a kind of time travel, Berkin takes the reader into the hearts and minds of the founders, explaining their mind-sets, their fears, and their very limited expectations. By telling a story that is more hallowed than understood, Berkin brings us into the world of eighteenth-century America and shows us the human side of a great accomplishment. (Description from publisher)
The Federalist by
The series of essays that comprise The Federalist constitutes one of the key texts of the American Revolution and the democratic system created in the wake of independence. Written in 1787 and 1788 by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to promote the ratification of the proposed Constitution, these papers stand as perhaps the most eloquent testimonial to democracy that exists. This new edition of The Federalist is edited by Robert Scigliano, a professor in the political science department at Boston College. His substantive Introduction sheds clarifying new light on the historical context and meaning of The Federalist. Scigliano also provides a fresh and definitive analysis of the disputed authorship of several sections of this crucial work. (Description from publisher)
America's Constitution by
A Yale Law School professor offers a thought-provoking analysis of the history and tenets of the U.S. Constitution, detailing the original intent of the creators of the document, answering questions about the text, and critically assessing the evolution of the Bill of Rights and all other amendments.
Our Constitution by
An in-depth look at the entire text of the U.S. Constitution, annotated with detailed explanations of its terms and contents. Each Amendment and Article is accompanied by sidebar material on the history of its application, including profiles of important Supreme Court cases, texts of related primary source documents, and contemporary news articles. Double-page timelines for several of the Articles and all the Amendments highlight important events and legal cases. Includes facsimile reproductions of primary source documents, paintings, phots, and historical artifacts. (Description from publisher)
Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution by
In Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution, Holton provides the startling discovery that the primary purpose of the Constitution was, simply put, to make America more attractive to investment. And the linchpin to that endeavor was taking power away from the states and ultimately away from the people. In an eye-opening interpretation of the Constitution, Holton captures how the same class of Americans that produced Shays's Rebellion in Massachusetts (and rebellions in damn near every other state) produced the Constitution we now revere. (Description from publisher)
The Antifederalists: Critics of the Constitution, 1781-1788 by
The Antifederalists come alive in this state-by-state analysis of politics during the Confederation and the debates over the enlargement of Congressional powers prior to the formation of the Constitution.
Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution by
From abortion to same-sex marriage, today's most urgent political debates will hinge on this two-part question: What did the United States Constitution originally mean and who now understands its meaning best? Rakove chronicles the Constitution from inception to ratification and, in doing so, traces its complex weave of ideology and interest, showing how this document has meant different things at different times to different groups of Americans.
Let the Students Speak! by
Let the Students Speak! details the rich history and growth of the First Amendment in public schools, from the early nineteenth-century's failed student free-expression claims to the development of protection for students by the U.S. Supreme Court. David Hudson brings this history vividly alive by drawing from interviews with key student litigants in famous cases, including John Tinker of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District and Joe Frederick of the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case, Morse v. Frederick. He goes on to discuss the raging free-speech controversies in public schools today, including dress codes and uniforms, cyberbullying, and the regulation of any violent-themed expression in a post-Columbine and Virginia Tech environment.
The First Amendment in Schools by
This book provides a civic and legal framework for giving all members of the school community—students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members—a real voice in shaping the life of the school. The book includes an explanation of the origins of the First Amendment; a concise, chronological history of 50 legal cases, including many landmark decisions, involving the First Amendment in public schools; answers to frequently asked questions about the practice of the First Amendment in schools, covering specific issues of religious liberty, free speech, and press as they affect school prayer, use of school facilities, dress and speech codes, student press, book selection, and curriculum; general information on First Amendment expression and practice in schools; and information on more than 60 educational and advocacy programs and organizations for First Amendment resources. (Description from publisher)
James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights by
Traces the efforts by James Madison between 1787 and 1789 as he battled anti-Federalist Patrick Henry to secure Virginia's ratification of the new Constitution, won the election to the House of Representatives, and secured the creation of the Bill of Rights.
The Fourth R: Conflicts Over Religion in America's Public Schools by
In this lively book, Joan DelFattore traces the evolution of school-prayer battles from the early 1800s, when children were beaten or expelled for refusing to read the King James Bible, to current disputes over prayer at public-school football games. Underlying these events, she shows, is a struggle to balance two of the most fundamental tenets of Americanism: majority rule and individual rights. (Description from publisher)
George Washington by
Despite his importance, Washington remains today a distant figure to many Americans. Previous books about him are immensely long and complicated. Paul Johnson has now produced a brief life that presents a vivid portrait of the great man as young warrior, masterly commander-in-chief, patient Constitution maker, and exceptionally wise president. He also shows Washington as a farmer of unusual skill and an entrepreneur of foresight, patriarch of an extended family, and proprietor of one of the most beautiful homes in America, which he largely built and adorned. (Description from publisher)
Founding Fathers: The Essential Guide to the Men Who Made America by
This comprehensive guide takes a compelling look at prominent statesmen such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and George Washington and lesser-known but influential leaders such as Samuel Chase, Charles Pinckney, and others. Alphabetized for easy reference, it also offers discussions of key issues, including slavery, the separation of powers, the presidency, and Deism and Christianity; events, such as the American Revolution, the Whiskey Rebellion, and the Louisiana Purchase; and documents, including the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. (Description from publisher)
James Madison by
In this examination of the life of a founding father, renowned historian Wills takes a fresh look at the life of James Madison, from his rise to prominence in the colonies through his role in the creation of the Articles of Confederation and the first Constitutional Congress.