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A brilliant solution : inventing the American Constitution  Cover Image Book Book

A brilliant solution : inventing the American Constitution / Carol Berkin.

Berkin, Carol. (Author).

Summary:

We know and love the story of the American Revolution, from the Declaration of Independence to Cornwallis's defeat. We forget, though, that the Articles of Confederation and our first attempts at self-government were disasters; the post-revolutionary Confederation slipped quickly into factional bickering and economic crisis. In 1787, a group of lawyers and politicians, some famous and others just ordinary men, journeyed to Philadelphia, determined to create a more stable framework of government, hoping that it would last long enough to bring an end to the crisis. Revealing that the story of that amazing summer in Philadelphia is more complicated and much more interesting than we have imagined, Carol Berkin makes you feel as if you were there, listening to the arguments, getting to know the framers, and appreciating the difficult and critical decisions being made. Using history as a kind of time travel, Berkin takes the reader into the hearts and minds of the founders, explaining their mind-sets, their fears, and their very limited expectations. By telling a story that is more hallowed than understood, Berkin brings us into the world of eighteenth-century America and shows us the human side of a great accomplishment. 655 0\65

Record details

  • ISBN: 0151009481
  • ISBN: 9780151009480
  • ISBN: 0156028727
  • ISBN: 9780156028721
  • Physical Description: 310 pages ; 22 cm
  • Edition: 1st ed.
  • Publisher: New York : Harcourt, ©2002.

Content descriptions

General Note:
Includes index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Our present federal government is a name, a shadow : the call for a convention -- Making Mr. Madison wait -- A gathering of demi-gods -- How far do you intend to go? : the perils of power -- I do not trust you, gentlemen : schisms, threats, and compromises -- Like "a trial of colours to a blind man" : debating the presidency once again -- I consent, sir, to this constitution because I expect no better : the convention ends -- The constitution is now before the judgment seat : the battle for ratification -- This great and good man : the inauguration of President George Washington.
Subject: United States. Constitutional Convention (1787)
United States. Constitution > Signers.
United States > Politics and government > 1783-1789.
Statesmen > United States > History > 18th century.
Constitutional history > United States.
Statesmen > United States > History > 18th century.
Genre: Nonfiction
History.

Available copies

  • 1 of 1 copy available at scottsboropl.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
scottsboropl 973.3 Ber 32269001235293 Adult - Nonfiction Available -

LDR 06171cam a2200997 a 4500
001161464
003SBPL
00520230804101238.0
008020411s2002 nyu b 001 0 eng
010 . ‡a 2002005648
020 . ‡a0151009481
020 . ‡a9780151009480
020 . ‡a0156028727
020 . ‡a9780156028721
0243 . ‡a9780151009480
035 . ‡a(OCoLC)49663906
035 . ‡a(OCoLC)49663906 ‡z(OCoLC)732837307 ‡z(OCoLC)1057014974 ‡z(OCoLC)1201949460
05000. ‡aE303 ‡b.B47 2002
08200. ‡a973.3/18 ‡221
1001 . ‡aBerkin, Carol.
24512. ‡aA brilliant solution : ‡binventing the American Constitution / ‡cCarol Berkin.
250 . ‡a1st ed.
260 . ‡aNew York : ‡bHarcourt, ‡c©2002.
300 . ‡a310 pages ; ‡c22 cm
336 . ‡atext ‡btxt ‡2rdacontent
337 . ‡aunmediated ‡bn ‡2rdamedia
338 . ‡avolume ‡bnc ‡2rdacarrier
500 . ‡aIncludes index.
5050 . ‡aOur present federal government is a name, a shadow : the call for a convention -- Making Mr. Madison wait -- A gathering of demi-gods -- How far do you intend to go? : the perils of power -- I do not trust you, gentlemen : schisms, threats, and compromises -- Like "a trial of colours to a blind man" : debating the presidency once again -- I consent, sir, to this constitution because I expect no better : the convention ends -- The constitution is now before the judgment seat : the battle for ratification -- This great and good man : the inauguration of President George Washington.
520 . ‡aWe know and love the story of the American Revolution, from the Declaration of Independence to Cornwallis's defeat. We forget, though, that the Articles of Confederation and our first attempts at self-government were disasters; the post-revolutionary Confederation slipped quickly into factional bickering and economic crisis. In 1787, a group of lawyers and politicians, some famous and others just ordinary men, journeyed to Philadelphia, determined to create a more stable framework of government, hoping that it would last long enough to bring an end to the crisis. Revealing that the story of that amazing summer in Philadelphia is more complicated and much more interesting than we have imagined, Carol Berkin makes you feel as if you were there, listening to the arguments, getting to know the framers, and appreciating the difficult and critical decisions being made. Using history as a kind of time travel, Berkin takes the reader into the hearts and minds of the founders, explaining their mind-sets, their fears, and their very limited expectations. By telling a story that is more hallowed than understood, Berkin brings us into the world of eighteenth-century America and shows us the human side of a great accomplishment. 655 0\65
61010. ‡aUnited States. ‡bConstitutional Convention ‡d(1787)
61010. ‡aUnited States. ‡tConstitution ‡xSigners.
651 0. ‡aUnited States ‡xPolitics and government ‡y1783-1789.
650 0. ‡aStatesmen ‡zUnited States ‡xHistory ‡y18th century.
650 0. ‡aConstitutional history ‡zUnited States.
650 1. ‡aStatesmen ‡zUnited States ‡xHistory ‡y18th century.
6550 . ‡aNonfiction
655 7. ‡aHistory. ‡2fast ‡0(OCoLC)fst01411628
901 . ‡a161464 ‡bAUTOGEN ‡c161464 ‡tbiblio

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