The Bill Of Rights

Introduces the Bill of Rights, describes the amendment process, and the influences the document has had on other nations... (more)

Introduces the Bill of Rights, describes the amendment process, and the influences the document has had on other nations. (less)

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The Bill of Rights is one of the most cited texts in political debates today. Indeed, courts and lawmakers are deeply in... (more)

The Bill of Rights is one of the most cited texts in political debates today. Indeed, courts and lawmakers are deeply involved in interpreting and understanding the text of the first ten amendments to the US Constitution, making it perhaps the most important primary source with which readers should be familiar. This vibrantly illustrated lower elementary title helps readers understand the text of the Bill of Rights and its importance to political discourse today. Compare and Contrast boxes help readers compare the rights granted by the different amendments, while Think About It boxes pose critical questions about the importance of the original text. (less)

Explains The Early History Of How The Bill Of Rights Came To Be And How It Is Used To Protect Citizens. (more)

Explains The Early History Of How The Bill Of Rights Came To Be And How It Is Used To Protect Citizens. (less)

Revered today for articulating America's founding principles, the first ten amendments-the Bill of Rights-were in fact a... (more)

Revered today for articulating America's founding principles, the first ten amendments-the Bill of Rights-were in fact a political stratagem executed by James Madison to preserve the Constitution, the federal government, and the latter's authority over the states. In 1789, the young nation faced a great ideological divide around a question still unanswered today: Should broad power and authority reside in the federal government, or should it reside in state governments? The Bill of Rights was a political ploy first and matter of principle second. How and why Madison came to devise this plan, the divisive debates it fostered in the Congress, and its ultimate success in defeating antifederalist counterplans to severely restrict the powers of the federal government is more engrossing than any of the myths that shroud our national beginnings. The debate over the founding fathers' original intent continues to this day. By pulling back the curtain on the political, shortsighted, and self-interested intentions of the founding fathers in passing the Bill of Rights, Carol Berkin reveals the inherent weakness in these arguments and what it means for our country today. (less)