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Introduction to the American Constitution

In this reading list we provide some guidance to the complex topic of the history, ratification, and meaning the Constitution of the United States. We have considerable resources on the founding of the American Republic, the formation of the constitution and the bill of rights, and the early Republic. For example, we have online a number of Liberty Fund published books which contain important primary source material useful for teaching at the high school and early college level, including:

• Political Sermons of the American Founding Era, 1730-1805, ed. Ellis Sandoz.
• The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen.
• Liberty and Order: The First American Party Struggle, ed. Lance Banning.
• Colonial Origins of the American Constitution: A Documentary History, ed. Donald S. Lutz.
• The Founders’ Constitution, ed. Philip Kurland and Ralph Lerner. [External website but with an updated table of contents at this website].
• The Federalist (Gideon Edition)

We also have online the complete works of the following Founding Fathers:

• Thomas Jefferson
• Alexander Hamilton
• James Madison
• John Adams

These works, and many others, can be accessed via the Topic page on The American Revolution and Constitution and the School of Thought page on the Founding Fathers in The Library.

• Becker on the history and influence of the American Declaration of Independence

  Carl Becker’s history of the origins and influence of the American Declaration of Independence.

  Carl Lotus Becker, The Declaration of Independence: A Study on the History of Political Ideas (New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1922).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1177 on 2008-05-07

• McClellan on the constitutional principles of the American government

  James McClellan’s book on the constitutional principles behind the American system of government.

  James McClellan, Liberty, Order, and Justice: An Introduction to the Constitutional Principles of American Government (3rd ed.) (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2000).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/679 on 2008-05-07

• Geroge Carey on various aspects of the American constitution

  A collection of George Carey’s essays on various aspects of the American constitution

  George W. Carey, In Defense of the Constitution, revised and expanded edition, (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1995).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/678 on 2008-05-07

• Vile on the separation of powers and the American constitution

  A collection of essays by Vile on a key aspect of the American constitution.

  M.J.C. Vile, Constitutionalism and the Separation of Powers (2nd ed.) (Indianapolis, Liberty Fund 1998).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/677 on 2008-05-07

• Key Documents: Legal and Political

  Our own collection of key historical legal and political documents of the Anglo-American world drawn from the various text online at the OLL.

  Source: We have gathered here a number of important documents and pamphlets which have been crucial in the development of free institutions. They include political documents such as bills of rights, declarations of independence, constitutions, and other pieces of legislation, as well as political pamphlets from the 17th and 18th centuries which advocated or defended such documents.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=41&Itemid=264 on 2008/4/3

• Donald Lutz on the colonial origins of the American constitution

  A collection of historical material which shows how important English and colonial events in the 17th century were in the development of the American constitution in the late 18th century.

  Donald S. Lutz, Colonial Origins of the American Constitution: A Documentary History, ed. Donald S. Lutz (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1998).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/694 on 2008-05-07

• The Founders’ Constitution

  This 5 volume work is a detailed analysis of the ideas and documents which lie behind the American constitution.

  Source: The Founders’ Constitution, edited by Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2001), 5 vols.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=109&Itemid=332 on 2008/4/3

• Hyneman’s documents from the founding period

  Charles Hyneman has collected dozens of primary sources from the founding era of the American republic to show how the constitution was debate before and after the revolution.

  Charles S. Hyneman, American Political Writing During the Founding Era: 1760-1805, ed. Charles S. Hyneman and Donald Lutz (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1983). 2 vols.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/2067 on 2008-05-07

• Frohnen’s documents on the founding of the American republic

  Bruce Frohnen has collected many key documents on the founding of the American republic.

  Bruce Frohnen, The American Republic: Primary Sources, ed. Bruce Frohnen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/669 on 2008-05-07

• Banning’s documents on the early republic

  Lance Banning has collected many primary sources on the founding of the republic and the early years of the new American government.

  Lance Banning, Liberty and Order: The First American Party Struggle, ed. and with a Preface by Lance Banning (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2004).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/875 on 2008-05-07

• Farrand’s collection of debates at the Federal Convention.

  Max Farrand edited a collection of the debates at the Federal Convention where crucial issues were discussed before the Constitution was ratified.

  Max Farrand, The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, ed. Max Farrand (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1911). 3 vols.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1785 on 2008-05-07

• The Gideon edition of The Federalist

  George Carey has edited an excellent edition of one of the key documents which led to the ratification of the American constitution. It was joint effort by Madison, Jay, and Hamilton and the essays were published in contemporary newspapers and much discussed.

  George W. Carey, The Federalist (The Gideon Edition), Edited with an Introduction, Reader’s Guide, Constitutional Cross-reference, Index, and Glossary by George W. Carey and James McClellan (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2001).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/788 on 2008-05-07

• Sheehan’s collection of the “other Federalists”

  Colleen Sheehan has collected numerous primary sources from lesser known figures, both supporters and critics of the constitution, on the eve of its ratification.

  Colleen A. Sheehan, Friends of the Constitution: Writings of the “Other” Federalists, 1787-1788, edited by Colleen A. Sheehan and Gary L. McDowell (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1998).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/2069 on 2008-05-07

• Pamphlets on the Constitution

  Paul Leicester Ford put together a collection of many essays and pamphlets on the constitution by lesser known supporters and critics of the constitution.

  Elbridge Gerry, Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, published during its Discussion by the People, 1787-1788, edited with notes and a bibliography by Paul Leiccester Ford (Brooklyn, N.Y., 1888).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1670 on 2008-05-07

• Elliot’s collection of debates by the States on the constitution

  Each state had delegates who debated the merits of the constitution before sending them to the Federal Convention to discuss and vote on the constitution.

  Jonathan Elliot, The debates in the several state conventions on the adoption of the federal Constitution, as recommended by the general convention at Philadelphia, in 1787. Together with the Journal of the federal convention, Luther Martin’s letter, Yates’s minutes, Congressional opinions, Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of ‘98-‘99, and other illustrations of the Constitution … 2d ed., with considerable additions. Collected and rev. from contemporary publications, by Jonathan Elliot. Pub. under the sanction of Congress. (1836), 5 vols.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1904 on 2008-05-07

• A selection of the Works of George Washington

  A selection of the works of George Washington, one of the key founding fathers of the U.S. constitution

  George Washington, George Washington: A Collection, compiled and edited by W.B. Allen (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1988).

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/848 on 2008-05-07

• The Works of James Madison

  The complete works of James Madison, one of the key founding fathers of the U.S. constitution

  James Madison, The Writings of James Madison, comprising his Public Papers and his Private Correspondence, including his numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed, ed. Gaillard Hunt (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1900). 9 vols.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1933 on 2008-05-07

• The Works of Thomas Jefferson

  The complete works of Thomas Jefferson, one of the key founding fathers of the U.S. constitution

  Thomas Jefferson, The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Federal Edition (New York and London, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904-5). 12 vols.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1734 on 2008-05-07

• The Works of Alexander Hamilton

  The complete works of Alexander Hamilton, one of the key founding fathers of the U.S. constitution

  Alexander Hamilton, The Works of Alexander Hamilton, ed. Henry Cabot Lodge (Federal Edition) (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904). In 12 vols.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/1712 on 2008-05-07

• The Works of John Adams

  The complete works of John Adams, one of the key founding fathers of the U.S. constitution

  John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes.

  Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/2098 on 2008-05-07