English Constitutional History

Fifty-five men met in Philadelphia in 1787 to write a document that would create a country and change a world: the Constitution. Here is a remarkable rendering of that fateful time, told with humanity and humor. Decision in Philadelphia is the best popular history of the Constitutional Convention; in it, the life and times of 18th-century America not only come alive, but the very human qualities of the men who framed the document are brought provocatively into focus - casting many of the Founding Fathers in a new light.

Scholars have long debated the meaning of the pursuit of happiness, yet have tended to define it narrowly, focusing on a single intellectual tradition, and on the use of the term within a single text, the Declaration of Independence. In this insightful volume, Carli Conklin considers the pursuit of happiness across a variety of intellectual traditions, and explores its usage in two key legal texts of the Founding Era, the Declaration and William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England.

From a preeminent legal scholar, a “fascinating” and “masterful” (Wall Street Journal) history of the American Constitution's formative decades When the US Constitution won popular approval in 1788, it was the culmination of thirty years of passionate argument over the nature of...

Have you ever wondered whether the Catholic Church is the true church? Believe it or not, Catholic scholars and experts, with the endorsement of the Catholic Church itself, have proven it ISN'T! Curious? This book uses only officially authorized Catholic books--ones which have received the official IMPRIMATUR (Latin for "let it be printed") of the Catholic Church--to show what Catholic Church historians admit about the history of their church, their hierarchy, their practices, and their claims. This isn't someone outside of the Catholic Church making arguments against the legitimacy of the ...

Instant New York Times bestseller A political manifesto for our present moment—part history lesson, part call to save the Republic "Brilliant, galvanizing, and inspirational. A road map to help us find our way out of the darkness." —Mary L. Trump We’re in this together. For the past...

The complete texts of the documents that tell the story of the clashes and compromises that gave birth to the Unites States of America. Should the members of the government be elected by direct vote of the people? Should the government be headed by a single executive, and how powerful should that executive be? Should immigrants be allowed into the United States? How should judges be appointed? What human rights should be safe from government infringement? In 1787, these important questions and others were raised as the states debated the merits of the proposed Constitution.

So much of the debate about the Second Amendment is in scholarly journals and academic papers written by scholars and judges, or directed towards other scholars, law professors, attorneys, and judges. Trying to wade through the extensive footnotes and references to legal cases and historical precedents known only to the academic elite is more than enough to make anyone feel hopeless.

George Washington’s Memoirs of a Life Forged in Liberty To narrate George Washington's life in his voice, providing readers with an intimate, first-person account of the pivotal events in his life, from his youth through war and nation-building to his final years, revealing the man behind the myth. George Washington’s personal journey from a young boy in Virginia to becoming the Father of His Country shows his internal thoughts and growth, providing an intimate first-person perspective. The American Revolution and Washington's military leadership are illustrated through key battles, ...

What if America was founded by a group that argued like teenagers, partied like rockstars, and somehow still managed to build a nation? The Founding Fathers: How America’s Most Dysfunctional Friend Group Created a Nation takes you behind the powdered wigs and into the very real, very messy lives of the people who shaped the United States. You’ll meet: George Washington, the reluctant leader who hated public speaking. Benjamin Franklin, a master of memes before memes existed. Alexander Hamilton, ambition in human form (and likely over-caffeinated). Thomas Jefferson, a walking ...

By 1787, it became evident that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate for the new nation. With these problems hampering the national government under the Articles of Confederation and the threat of default on the nation's massive war debt looming, plans began being made to fix the problems of the Articles of Confederation. Thus, that summer, a Constitutional convention was called, and each state sent delegates to Philadelphia. Among the delegates were prominent patriots and former members of the Continental Congress, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.

“The Bible and the Constitution: Exploring the Judeo-Christian Roots of American Law.” Discover the Deep Connection Between Faith and Law in the Birth of the United States! Product Description In a divisive world where faith and politics often clash, understanding the interwoven relationship between Christianity and American law can help bridge the gap. “The Bible and the Constitution” is a comprehensive 9,000-word guide that meticulously explores the Judeo-Christian influences that have shaped American legal and political systems. What This eBook Offers: Chapter 1: Understanding ...

An “assiduously researched” (The Wall Street Journal), “powerful...dispassionate new biography” (The Christian Science Monitor) of Woodrow Wilson, focused on his role in the long national struggle for racial equality and women’s voting rights. More than a century after his death...

Fights over history are at the heart of most important constitutional disputes in America. The Supreme Court's current embrace of originalism is only the most recent example of how lawyers and judges try to use history to establish authority for their positions. Jack M. Balkin argues that fights over constitutional interpretation are often fights over collective memory. Balkin shows how lawyers and judges channel history through standard forms of legal argument that shape how they use history and even what they see in history.

Constitutional originalism stakes law to history. The theory's core tenet—that the United States Constitution should be interpreted according to its original meaning—has us decide questions of modern constitutional law by consulting the distant constitutional past. Yet originalist engagement with history is often deeply problematic. In this comprehensive and novel critique of originalism, Jonathan Gienapp targets originalists' unspoken assumptions about the Constitution and its history.

Americans revere their Constitution. However, most of us are unaware how tumultuous and improbable the drafting and ratification processes were. As Benjamin Franklin keenly observed, any assembly of men bring with them "all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests and their selfish views." One need not deny that the Framers had good intentions in order to believe that they also had interests.

This study guide has 160 outstanding multiple-choice questions to crush your AP US History Test Prep! Part II includes detailed Answers and Explanations for dozens of questions that will challenge and fuel your prep. The following topics are covered: American Revolution: Causes and events leading to the revolution Declaration of Independence Revolutionary War and its consequences The Constitution: Articles of Confederation Constitutional Convention

Do you really want the crooked baby-kissers and fake news to tell you what your rights are? Wouldn’t you rather discover them for yourself? The founders fought tirelessly to guarantee these God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But let’s face it - the Bill of Rights is hard to understand. Its text is flowery and puzzling. It’s full of legal and political jargon.

New York Times Bestseller In a provocative and brilliant analysis, retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer deconstructs the textualist philosophy of the current Supreme Court’s supermajority and makes the case for a more pragmatic approach of the Constitution. “You will not read a more...

The never-before-told full story of the history-changing break-in at the FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, by a group of unlikely activists - quiet, ordinary, hardworking Americans - that made clear the shocking truth and confirmed what some had long suspected, that J. Edgar Hoover had created and was operating, in violation of the U.S. Constitution, his own shadow Bureau of Investigation.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning scholar, a timely history of the constitutional changes that built equality into the nation's foundation and how those guarantees have been shaken over time.