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More copies of this ISBNThe Annotated U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independenceby Jack N Rakove
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments: Here in a beautifully bound cloth gift 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. In an introductory essay written for the general reader, Jack N. Rakove provides a narrative political account of how these documents came to be written. In his commentary on the Declaration of Independence, Rakove sets the historical context for a fuller appreciation of the important preamble and the list of charges leveled against the Crown. When he glosses the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the subsequent amendments, Rakove once again provides helpful historical background, targets language that has proven particularly difficult or controversial, and cites leading Supreme Court cases. A chronology of events provides a framework for understanding the road to Philadelphia. The general reader will not find a better, more helpful guide to our founding documents than Jack N. Rakove. Review:"This probing commentary on America's founding documents by constitutional historian Rakove (winner of a Pulitzer for Original Meanings) begins with a long essay on their historical and political background, stressing their ideological innovations. His detailed exegeses unavoidably lose some thematic coherence while elucidating the Declaration as a work of propaganda (considerably overstating George III's despotism, notes Rakove) and the Constitution's murky political compromises. Rakove is a constitutionalist — but he's palpably dissatisfied with the Constitution we've got. Among other complaints, he says amending the Constitution is so difficult, we passively interpret it instead of remaking it to suit our evolving purposes. Rakove's is a lucid, thought-provoking guide to the contents — and discontents — of our national charters. 34 b&w illus." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Book News Annotation:The complete text of the US Constitution and Declaration of
Independence are presented in compact (5x7") form, with notes by a
Pulitzer-prize winning historian providing historical contexts and
interpretive commentary. There is special focus on explaining
language that has been controversial over the years. A 70-page
introductory essay offers a narrative account of how the documents
came to be written. The book includes high-interest b&w photos and
illustrations from numerous periods in US history, a timeline of key
events from 1607 through 2008, and a list of further reading, making
it useful for general readers and students. Rakove teaches history,
American studies, and political science at Stanford University. He is
author of the Pulitzer-Prize winning Original Meanings: Politics and
Ideas in the Making of the Constitution.
Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) About the Author<>Jack N. Rakoveis the William R. Coe Professor of History and American Studies and Professor of <>Political Science at Stanford Universityand author of the Pulitzer Prize — winning Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution. Table of Contents
IntroductionThe Declaration of IndependenceThe U.S. ConstitutionAmendments to the ConstitutionWhat Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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