Here are 5 books that we found helpful to increase our understanding the Constitution, past and present.
We the People
We found it interesting to learn about all the quarreling and compromises leading up to the final draft of the Constitution. Cheney does a good job presenting it clearly for the elementary age group.
“America had won the Revolution, but our troubles were far from over. The thirteen states were squabbling, the country could not pay its bills, and in Massachusetts farmers had taken up arms against the government. Was our country, which had fought so hard for its independence, going to survive?
“In May 1787 delegates from across the country—including George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin—gathered in Philadelphia and, meeting over the course of a sweltering summer, created a new framework for governing: the Constitution of the United States. Their efforts turned a shaky alliance of states into a nation that would prosper and grow powerful, drawing its strength for centuries to come from “We the people” and inspiring hope for freedom around the world.” (description from Amazon)
Worst of Friends
The subheading reads, “Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the True Story of an American Feud.” Jefferson and Adams were opposite in appearance and in personality, too. The beginning of the book sets up their relationship as friends, especially in their roles in the early days of the American Revolution.
Their notable differences began while the founding fathers were setting up the new government. John was a Federalist, believing in a strong executive power, while Thomas Jefferson wanted more checks and balances. This argument led to a rift in their friendship that wasn’t mended until they began corresponding again in 1812. They were friends again until their deaths, which happened to be on the same day and the 50th anniversary of American Independence: July 4, 1826.
The Consititution Decoded
“Ever wonder why the president has a Cabinet? Why there’s such thing as trial by jury? Why someday you’ll have to pay income tax, or why there are no Dukes, Duchesses, Counts, or Countesses in the United States? Because the Constitution says so––and so much more. And now, in The Constitution Decoded, the ideas, concepts, and rules that make America are unpacked and explained in detail to help all of us, kids and parents too, become more informed citizens.
“Written with impeccable clarity and illustrated in a style that brings America’s early days to life, this fascinating guide goes through the Constitution literally word by word, sentence by sentence, and idea by idea to give readers a true understanding of not only how the Framers envisioned the United States, but also why they made the choices they did. Here’s why, for example, the United States has three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial. It explains how bills become laws, why we have the right to free speech, how we can change the Constitution as our country evolves, and so much more.” (description from Amazon)
For Which We Stand
“Now more than ever, it’s so important for everyone to understand our government: where it came from, how it works, and how we can bring about change. And, after all, in the words of author and government teacher Jeff Foster, ‘If you don’t participate, you can’t complain.’
“This book is a comprehensive and entertaining guide that answers questions like: What is the Constitution? What are the branches of the government? What is the Electoral College? What are the political parties? What are the different responsibilities of the city, state, and federal governments? Plus, discover the complete backstory on some of our government’s most important moments, like why we wrote the Declaration of Independence, and how people since then have worked with and protested against the government to improve the lives of all Americans.” (description from Amazon)
Fault Lines in the Constitution
“Many of the political issues we struggle with today have their roots in one place—the U.S. Constitution. Fault Lines in the Constitution takes readers back to the creation of this historic document and reveals how many of the problems that trouble us today—such as voting rights, the Electoral College, gerrymandering—were first introduced. Cynthia and Sanford Levinson explain the unexpected ramifications of decisions make in 1787 and explore possible solutions found in the constitutions of states and other countries.
“Each chapter begins with a story―all but one of them true―that connects directly back to a section of the document that forms the basis of our society and government. Informative sidebars and graphics run throughout along with a timeline and bibliography.” (description from Amazon)
Other US History Booklists:
- Vikings
- Age of Exploration
- Columbus
- Roanoke
- Pocahontas and Jamestown
- Pilgrims at Plymouth
- New Amsterdam
- Benjamin Franklin
- George Washington
- Colonial Life in America
- The Beginning of the American Revolution
- Books about the other Founding Fathers
- Read through American History with Leveled Readers
- Spies and the American Revolution
- More Stories of the American Revolution
- 3 Books about the Poet Phillis Wheatley