Founding Documents of America
Documents Decoded
Published on 9. September 2015
Book
Hardback
384 pages
978-1-4408-3928-3 (ISBN)
Description
Written by a renowned expert on the American Founding period, this book examines selections of key documents from 1215 through 1791 that were instrumental to the development of the U.S. Constitution and the American political tradition.
The latest addition to ABC-CLIO's popular Documents Decoded series, John R. Vile's Founding Documents of America presents historic documents key to the foundations of our nation's government accompanied by introductions that supply background information and analysis that highlights key provisions and provide historical context. The coverage extends beyond the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights to provide contextual understanding of a wide range of other documents, such as private diary entries and political polemics, that will further readers' understanding of the United States' founding and early political development.
The documents are organized chronologically into four sections: constitutional antecedents; the revolutionary and confederal periods; calling and convening the Constitutional Convention; and debating, ratifying, implementing, and amending the new Constitution. Through its more than 50 primary source documents-from the Magna Carta of 1215 through the Bill of Rights, which was adopted in 1791-this book will serve high school and college students seeking to understand the documents that laid the foundations for the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and provide opportunities for student readers to build critical thinking skills.
The latest addition to ABC-CLIO's popular Documents Decoded series, John R. Vile's Founding Documents of America presents historic documents key to the foundations of our nation's government accompanied by introductions that supply background information and analysis that highlights key provisions and provide historical context. The coverage extends beyond the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights to provide contextual understanding of a wide range of other documents, such as private diary entries and political polemics, that will further readers' understanding of the United States' founding and early political development.
The documents are organized chronologically into four sections: constitutional antecedents; the revolutionary and confederal periods; calling and convening the Constitutional Convention; and debating, ratifying, implementing, and amending the new Constitution. Through its more than 50 primary source documents-from the Magna Carta of 1215 through the Bill of Rights, which was adopted in 1791-this book will serve high school and college students seeking to understand the documents that laid the foundations for the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and provide opportunities for student readers to build critical thinking skills.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
3 bw illus
Dimensions
Height: 286 mm
Width: 221 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
1224 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4408-3928-3 (9781440839283)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
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E-Book
09/2015
1st Edition
ABC-CLIO
€82.99
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E-Book
09/2015
ABC-CLIO
€82.99
Available for download
Person
John R. Vile, PhD, is professor of political science and dean of the University Honors College at Middle Tennessee State University.
Content
Introduction,
SECTION I. CONSTITUTIONAL ANTECEDENTS
The Law of the Land,
Magna Carta
1215
Against Common Right and Reason,
Sir Edward Coke's Dr. Bonham's Case
1610
A Civill Body Politick,
The Mayflower Compact
1620
No Man Be Compelled,
The Petition of Right
1628
"A Model of Christian Charity,"
John Winthrop's Sermon
1630
An Orderly and Decent Government,
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
1639
The Free Fruition of Such Liberties,
Massachusetts Body of Liberties
1641
The Peace, Safety, and Public Good of the People,
John Locke's Second Treatise of Government
1689
The Rights and Liberties of the Subject,
English Bill of Rights
1689
There Is No Such Thing as Slavery,
Samuel Sewall's The Selling of Joseph: A Memorial
1701
Liberty of Conscience,
Charter of Privileges Granted to the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania and Territories
October 28, 1701
Proclaim Liberty,
Liberty Bell Inscription
1751
Join, or Die,
Benjamin Franklin's Sketch
May 9, 1754
Mutual Defence and Security,
The Albany Plan of Union
July 10, 1754
SECTION II: THE REVOLUTIONARY AND CONFEDERAL PERIODS
Life, Liberty, and Property,
Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
October 14, 1774
So Void of Common Sense,
Washington Forbids Soldiers from Celebrating Guy Fawkes Day
November 5, 1775
'Tis Time to Part,
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
1776
Remember the Ladies,
Abigail and John Adams, Correspondence on Women's Issues
March-August 1776
Adopt Such Government,
Resolution of Second Continental Congress
May 10, 1776
Absolved from All Allegiance,
Richard Henry Lee's Resolutions
June 7, 1776
The Basis and Foundation of Government,
The Virginia Declaration of Rights
Ratified on June 12, 1776
We Hold These Truths,
The Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776
The Natural Rights of Mankind,
A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
Introduced June 18, 1779; adopted 1786
Mutual Friendship and Intercourse,
Articles of Confederation
Written in 1776; adopted in 1781
E Pluribus Unum,
Great Seal of the United States
1782
The Interest of the Community,
George Washington's Circular to the States
June 8, 1783
A Firm and Perpetual Peace,
Treaty of Paris
September 3, 1783
An Affectionate Farewell,
George Washington's Address on Resigning His Commission
December 23, 1783
No Powers but What Were Given,
Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia
1785
The Sole and Exclusive Right,
Congressional Proposal for Revising the Articles of Confederation
August 7, 1786
SECTION III: CALLING AND CONVENING THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Defects in the System,
Annapolis Convention Resolution
1786
As a Mean to Remedy,
Congressional Endorsement of Annapolis Convention Resolution
February 21, 1787
An Aggregate View,
James Madison Discusses Vices of the Political System of the United States
April 1787
A House to Do Business,
Rules for the Constitutional Convention
May 28, 1787
The Infancy of the Science of Constitutions,
The Virginia Plan
May 29, 1787
Adequate to the Exigencies of Government,
The New Jersey Plan
June 15, 1787
Blessings on Our Deliberations,
Debates over State Representation Lead to a Call for Prayer
June 28, 1787
Articles of Compact,
Northwest Ordinance
July 13, 1787
This Infernal Trafic,
Debates at the Convention over Slavery
August 1787
Experience Must Be Our Only Guide,
John Dickinson Emphasizes the Need for Experience in Governing
August 13, 1787
Cabal and Corruption,
Debates over the Presidency
September 4, 1787
Make Manifest Our Unanimity,
Benjamin Franklin's Final Speech at the Constitutional Convention
September 17, 1787
We the People,
The Constitution of the United States
1787
The Consolidation of Our Union,
George Washington Transmits the Constitution to Congress
September 17, 1787
In Conformity to the Resolves,
Resolution of Congress Submitting the Constitution to the Several States
September 28, 1787
SECTION IV: DEBATING, RATIFYING, IMPLEMENTING, AND AMENDING THE NEW CONSTITUTION
The Instrument of the Union,
James Wilson Comments on Ratifying the Proposed Constitution
October 6, 1787
Our Freedom We've Won,
"The Grand Constitution" Song
October 1787
The Destruction of Your Liberties,
Brutus Issues His Anti-Federalist Essay
1787
The Mischiefs of Faction,
Federalist Papers, No. 10 & No. 51
1787-1788
The Tyranny of Rulers,
Patrick Henry's Speech at Virginia's Ratifying Convention
June 5, 1788
The Great National Dome,
The Federal Pillars
1788
Ratification and the Bill of Rights,
Letters between Madison and Jefferson
1787-1789
Summoned by My Country,
George Washington's Inaugural Address
April 30, 1789
To Administer Justice,
Judiciary Act of 1789
September 24, 1789
To Bigotry No Sanction,
Correspondence between Moses Seixas and President George Washington
1790
Amendments to the Constitution,
The Bill of Rights
Proposed by Congress in 1789; ratified in 1791
Timeline of Events,
Further Reading,
Index,
About the Author,
SECTION I. CONSTITUTIONAL ANTECEDENTS
The Law of the Land,
Magna Carta
1215
Against Common Right and Reason,
Sir Edward Coke's Dr. Bonham's Case
1610
A Civill Body Politick,
The Mayflower Compact
1620
No Man Be Compelled,
The Petition of Right
1628
"A Model of Christian Charity,"
John Winthrop's Sermon
1630
An Orderly and Decent Government,
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
1639
The Free Fruition of Such Liberties,
Massachusetts Body of Liberties
1641
The Peace, Safety, and Public Good of the People,
John Locke's Second Treatise of Government
1689
The Rights and Liberties of the Subject,
English Bill of Rights
1689
There Is No Such Thing as Slavery,
Samuel Sewall's The Selling of Joseph: A Memorial
1701
Liberty of Conscience,
Charter of Privileges Granted to the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania and Territories
October 28, 1701
Proclaim Liberty,
Liberty Bell Inscription
1751
Join, or Die,
Benjamin Franklin's Sketch
May 9, 1754
Mutual Defence and Security,
The Albany Plan of Union
July 10, 1754
SECTION II: THE REVOLUTIONARY AND CONFEDERAL PERIODS
Life, Liberty, and Property,
Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
October 14, 1774
So Void of Common Sense,
Washington Forbids Soldiers from Celebrating Guy Fawkes Day
November 5, 1775
'Tis Time to Part,
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
1776
Remember the Ladies,
Abigail and John Adams, Correspondence on Women's Issues
March-August 1776
Adopt Such Government,
Resolution of Second Continental Congress
May 10, 1776
Absolved from All Allegiance,
Richard Henry Lee's Resolutions
June 7, 1776
The Basis and Foundation of Government,
The Virginia Declaration of Rights
Ratified on June 12, 1776
We Hold These Truths,
The Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776
The Natural Rights of Mankind,
A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom
Introduced June 18, 1779; adopted 1786
Mutual Friendship and Intercourse,
Articles of Confederation
Written in 1776; adopted in 1781
E Pluribus Unum,
Great Seal of the United States
1782
The Interest of the Community,
George Washington's Circular to the States
June 8, 1783
A Firm and Perpetual Peace,
Treaty of Paris
September 3, 1783
An Affectionate Farewell,
George Washington's Address on Resigning His Commission
December 23, 1783
No Powers but What Were Given,
Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia
1785
The Sole and Exclusive Right,
Congressional Proposal for Revising the Articles of Confederation
August 7, 1786
SECTION III: CALLING AND CONVENING THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Defects in the System,
Annapolis Convention Resolution
1786
As a Mean to Remedy,
Congressional Endorsement of Annapolis Convention Resolution
February 21, 1787
An Aggregate View,
James Madison Discusses Vices of the Political System of the United States
April 1787
A House to Do Business,
Rules for the Constitutional Convention
May 28, 1787
The Infancy of the Science of Constitutions,
The Virginia Plan
May 29, 1787
Adequate to the Exigencies of Government,
The New Jersey Plan
June 15, 1787
Blessings on Our Deliberations,
Debates over State Representation Lead to a Call for Prayer
June 28, 1787
Articles of Compact,
Northwest Ordinance
July 13, 1787
This Infernal Trafic,
Debates at the Convention over Slavery
August 1787
Experience Must Be Our Only Guide,
John Dickinson Emphasizes the Need for Experience in Governing
August 13, 1787
Cabal and Corruption,
Debates over the Presidency
September 4, 1787
Make Manifest Our Unanimity,
Benjamin Franklin's Final Speech at the Constitutional Convention
September 17, 1787
We the People,
The Constitution of the United States
1787
The Consolidation of Our Union,
George Washington Transmits the Constitution to Congress
September 17, 1787
In Conformity to the Resolves,
Resolution of Congress Submitting the Constitution to the Several States
September 28, 1787
SECTION IV: DEBATING, RATIFYING, IMPLEMENTING, AND AMENDING THE NEW CONSTITUTION
The Instrument of the Union,
James Wilson Comments on Ratifying the Proposed Constitution
October 6, 1787
Our Freedom We've Won,
"The Grand Constitution" Song
October 1787
The Destruction of Your Liberties,
Brutus Issues His Anti-Federalist Essay
1787
The Mischiefs of Faction,
Federalist Papers, No. 10 & No. 51
1787-1788
The Tyranny of Rulers,
Patrick Henry's Speech at Virginia's Ratifying Convention
June 5, 1788
The Great National Dome,
The Federal Pillars
1788
Ratification and the Bill of Rights,
Letters between Madison and Jefferson
1787-1789
Summoned by My Country,
George Washington's Inaugural Address
April 30, 1789
To Administer Justice,
Judiciary Act of 1789
September 24, 1789
To Bigotry No Sanction,
Correspondence between Moses Seixas and President George Washington
1790
Amendments to the Constitution,
The Bill of Rights
Proposed by Congress in 1789; ratified in 1791
Timeline of Events,
Further Reading,
Index,
About the Author,