Declaration of Independence
Constitution of the United States
The Federalist, James Madison
George washington's 1st Inaugural and Farewell Address
Thomas Jefferson's 1st Inaugural Address
James Monroe's Monroe Doctrine
William Lloyd Garrison's The Liberator
Andrew Jackson's Veto of the Bank Bill
Lincoln's First and 2nd Inaugural Address, Emanciapation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address
Collectively these are the very words of freedom which still endure today. So much is said in so few words. They represent quantum leaps in our struggle for Independence, Freedom and Equality and mark each milestone- from war of independence to civil war to the abolition of slavery- with sublime brevity. The words are charged with electricity and coated with the blood of thousands of Americans who gave their lives to uphold these founding principles.
We face a darkness on our horizon. It would serve us well to remember these words- torches of Liberty that our forefathers lit to remind us of the spirit, the principles and the freedoms that we still stand for and struggle to uphold. God Bless America!
This is handy and gets the reader in the right time frame, making this an indispensable reference for general readers to American political writing. This book covers a basic library of important American documents from the first century of America's history as an independent nation.
From Patrick Henry's 1775 speech to the Virginia Revolutionary Committee, "Give Me Liberity or Give Me Death" to Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugral Address in March 4, 1865 we see the tenor of American thought throughout come to the forefront. These are compelling, influential and often inspirational, but most importantly these are certainly among the most essential and enduring, reflecting the ideas, issues and conflicts which dominated American political life in the first century of our fledgling republic.
The contents is listed:Patrick Henry: "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death," March 23, 1775
Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
The Constitution of the United States, September 17,1787 with amendments
James Madison: The Federalist, number 10, November 23,1787
George Washington: Firt Inaugral Address, April 30, 1789
George Washington: Farewell Address, September 19 1796
Thomas Jefferson: First Inaugral Address, March 4, 1801
James Monroe: The Monroe Doctrine, December 2, 1823
William Lloyd Garrison: The Liberator, January 1, 1831
Andrew Jackson: Veto of the Bank Bill, July 10, 1832
Abraham Lincoln: First Inaugral Address, March 4, 1861
Abraham Lincoln: The Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863
Abraham Lincoln: The Gettysburg Address, November 18, 1863
Abraham Lincoln: Second Inaugral Address, March 4, 1865
These all are compelling documents dear to the heart of the United States and should be in those of us who call ourselves citizens as well. This is excellent for teaching our children, revealing a spectrum of thought and opinion more complex and wide ranging than often remembered... and what it means to be an American and the responsiblities that go along with it.
The texts included are as follows: Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech; the Declaration of Independence; the Constitution (with all 27 Amendments); "The Federalist" #10; George Washington's First Inaugural and Farewell Addresses; Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address; the Monroe Doctrine; William Lloyd Garrison's prospectus for "The Liberator," an anti-slavery periodical; Andrew Jackson's 1832 Bank Bill veto; Abraham Lincoln's First and Second Inaugural Addresses; the Emancipation Proclamation; and the Gettysburg Address.
These are critical documents, and it is excellent to have them together in a compact volume. I think the book would have been enhanced, however, with the inclusion of a few texts by women or ethnic minorities: perhaps one of Abigail Adams' insightful letters to her husband, an article from abolitionist David Walker's "Appeal," or an excerpt from the writings of pioneering Native American writer William Apess. Certainly texts like these reflect (to quote from the Introduction) "the ideas, issues, and conflicts which dominated American political life in those first nine decades." Still, this is a fine anthology, and I recommend it both for classroom use and individual reading.
