Description: The United States Constitution records the structure of America's public life and society, distributing power and outlining citizens' rights and privileges. Historians Christopher Waldrep and Lynne Curry's compilation of leading interpretive documents traces English and American constitutional thinking from its earliest roots in 1215, to the U.S. Supreme Court under the great chief justice John Marshall. These documents reveal the constitution as an idea, growing and evolving but always reflecting particular moments in history. This book records the drama of the young American nation searching for its identity.
Review Quotes: «The four volumes of this new documentary sourcebook offer a fresh look at our constitutional past. In addition to excerpts from landmark decisions of the Supreme Court, the editors provide a host of other important documents - everything from England's Magna Carta to the U.S. Congress's authorization of the Iraq War - that illuminate the evolution of American constitutionalism. Students will benefit from the chance to hear these disparate voices of our constitutional heritage, while professors and teachers will appreciate the concise commentary and thoughtful organization. I strongly recommend them.» (Timothy S. Huebner, Rhodes College, author of 'The Southern Judicial Tradition: State Judges and Sectional Distinctiveness, 1790-1890')
«Christopher Waldrep and Lynne Curry have assembled a treasure trove of teaching materials on the Constitution. Students and teachers alike will find useful materials on women and the law, slavery, state's rights, and so much more. This anthology will be adopted in many classrooms because of the breadth of material included.» (Sally Hadden, Florida State University, author of 'Slave Patrols: Law and Violence in Virginia and the Carolinas')