The Constitution of the United States of America and Selected Writings

A full, analytical index of the original Constitution and all of its ratified amendments follows. On July 4, 1776, in the midst of the Revolutionary War, the thirteen colonies of the United States ratified a document that would later be known as the . In it, the Continental Congress and the people it represented declared they were no longer under the rule of Great Britain and were now the United States. The Delegates who convened at the Federal Convention in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, agreed to construct a new framework for a national government. Throughout the next four months, led by their elected president, George Washington, they debated the proper form such government should take. Once the was constructed, the debates that ensued in state senates while it was being ratified by each state made clear the need for additions to the basic framework drafted in Philadelphia to protect certain liberties at the core of American traditions. James Madison, then a member of the new United States House of Representative, drafted a list of amendments to guarantee the freedoms that Americans hold dear that would become known as the . The documents in this collection are as well as a testament to the , who put them on paper. Whether you are a history buff looking to enhance your library; or you are studying or teaching US government in school or at home and need a sturdy, portable reference; or you simply want to be able to prove that you are right in your political arguments, wherever they may occur—this edition containing is what you are looking for. Essential volumes for the shelves of every classic literature lover, the includes beautifully presented works and collections from some of the most important authors in literary history. Chartwell Classics are the editions of choice for the most discerning literature buffs. Other titles in the include: ; ; T ; and