Originally published: Washington City: Printed for the Author, by Way and Gideon, 1823. [4], 316 pp. Hardcover. New. Reprint of the uncommon first edition of the fourth and last of Taylor's books on the United States Constitution. Little-known today, Taylor's work is of great significance in the political and intellectual history of the South and essential for understanding the constitutional theories that Southerners asserted to justify secession in 1861. Taylor was a leading advocate of states' rights, agrarianism and a strict construction of the Constitution in the political battles of the 1790s. "Taylor and myself have rarely, if ever, differed in any political principle of importance."-- Thomas Jefferson. Later Southern political leaders, notably John C. Calhoun, shared this opinion. Known as John Taylor of Caroline [1753-1824], Taylor fought in the Revolutionary War and served briefly in the Virginia House of Delegates before he became a Senator from Virginia. Taylor was the author of Construction Construed and Constitutions Vindicated, A Defence of the Measures of the Administration of Thomas Jefferson, attributed to "Curtius," An Inquiry into the Principles and Policy of the Government of the United States and other works

St. George Tucker's View of the Constitution, published in 1803, was the first extended, systematic commentary on the United States Constitution after its ratification. Generations learned their Blackstone and their understanding of the Constitution through Tucker. Clyde N. Wilson is Professor of History and editor of The Papers of John C. Calhoun at the University of South Carolina. Please note: This title is available as an ebook for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.

This leatherbound collection of classic works traces the founding of America, from the birth of the nation in the late 1760s to the creation of a more perfect union at the end of the early 1800s. It celebrates the pursuit of life, liberty and justice and the freedoms that define America through notable documents as well as significant pieces, writings and speeches by famous figures and the founding fathers commenting on historic events. This volume includes the full texts of On Civil War by Benjamin Franklin, Common Sense by Thomas Paine, The Declaration of Independence and many more. A beautiful addition to any home library, the bonded-leather edition also features a satin-ribbon bookmark, distinctive stained edging and decorative endpapers.

“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union . . . ” — The U.S Constitution The U.S. Constitution and Other Writings is a collection of the crucial documents, speeches, and other writings that shaped the United States. In addition to the Constitution, readers can review the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Federalist Papers, important presidential speeches, and many others. Both famous and lesser-known, but equally important, Americans are represented, including Benjamin Franklin, Victoria Woodhull, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and even the creators of the rules of baseball. The founders' inspirational and revolutionary ideals are all here, and this is a perfect volume for anyone who finds the history of America to be a fascinating and enlightening journey.

The United States Constitution is a quintessentially political document. Yet, until now, no one has seriously considered the formative influence of this document on American cultural life. In this ambitious book, Mitchell Meltzer demonstrates the extent to which the Constitution is both source and inspiration for America's greatest literary masterworks.

What is the President, Congress, and the Supreme Court really allowed to do? This unique and handy guide includes the documents that guide our government, annotated with accessible explanations from one of America's most esteemed constitutional scholars. In one portable volume, with accessible annotations and modernizing commentary throughout, Richard Beeman presents The Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Beeman has created a fascinating apparatus for understanding the most important document in American history—and why it’s as central in the America of today as it was in creation of the country. Penguin presents a series of six portable, accessible, and—above all—essential reads from American political history, selected by leading scholars. Series editor Richard Beeman, author of The Penguin Guide to the U.S. Constitution, draws together the great texts of American civic life to create a timely and informative mini-library of perennially vital issues. Whether readers are encountering these classic writings for the first time, or brushing up in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, these slim volumes will serve as a powerful and illuminating resource for scholars, students, and civic-minded citizens.

This treatise was the first comprehensive study of the United States Constitution, and one of the most important. Though concise, Rawle provides a systematic analysis of the Constitution's articles, as well as its historical background and philosophy. It is also a historically significant work because it suggests that states have a right secede from the Union. A popular textbook used in schools with large numbers of southern pupils, such as the U.S. Military Academy, it is generally considered to have influenced the leaders and supporters of the Confederacy.