Rating: 
Summary: A solid collection of key documents
Review: "The Declaration of Independence and Other Great Documents of American History, 1775-1865," edited by John Grafton, is a fine collection of important texts. The editor has produced a compact but meaty book of just under 100 pages. 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Concise and Powerful - the keystones of America!
Review: Beginning with Patrick Henry's rousing (and particularly timely today) call to action, "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" or the War Inevitable speech, "The Declaration of Independence and other great documents of American History" covers the most widely known of our country's key documents in its first century of existence. Each document is prefaced with a brief intro, which nicely places each in historical context.
Also included are: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: Mandatory Reading
Review: Every American should read these documents. This is the basis for our society.
Rating:
Summary: Mandatory Reading
Review: Every American should read these documents. This is the basis for our society.
Rating:
Summary: More Liberal Trash
Review: I am sick and tired of hearing from the extreme left about the injustices our government perpetrates on it own citizens, and this is a perfect example of how Lefties are marginalizing themselves with their extreme liberal ideas.
"Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech" Who are they looking out for? Not YOU!! Now the Patriot Act, that is sensible legislation. Now President Bush, that is a man who is looking out for you. Our government needs to shut down unpatriotic speech like Al Franken. That man needs to just shut up and this "Bill O'Rights" is infringing on our governments ability to protect itself from people like Mr. Franken and my copyright. I am currently sueing the Founding Fathers for copyright infringment of my name. I have FOXNews lawyers working round the clock to change the name to "Unneeded Amendments to the Constitution that Inhibit the Ability of our Government to Protect its People." To the Founding Father is say to you, "shut up! You had your 35 minutes! Shut up!" Also, my book Those Who Trespass is on sale at book retailers everwhere.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Handy Collection Of Great Amercian Documents`
Review: In John Grafton's edited book of great documents of American History, he provides an uniquely handy reference book to the great speeches and documents of our past. Included are both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, with all Amemdments, a document I often find myself in need of referencing, especially in these tumultuous times. I will not list off all the documents in his book, the Amazon review and several reader reviews do list them. But I would note, that Grafton's commentary on Lincoln's composition of the Gettysburgh Address is in accord with the superb work of Gary Wills in his book, "Lincoln At Gettysburgh" where Wills thoroughly debunks the myth that Lincoln wrote the Address on the back of an envelope on his way up on the train. Anyone who has frequent need to reference some of the greatest and enduring documents in American History will find this book an invaluable reference tool.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Handy Collection Of Great Amercian Documents`
Review: In John Grafton's edited book of great documents of American History, he provides an uniquely handy reference book to the great speeches and documents of our past. Included are both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, with all Amemdments, a document I often find myself in need of referencing, especially in these tumultuous times. I will not list off all the documents in his book, the Amazon review and several reader reviews do list them. But I would note, that Grafton's commentary on Lincoln's composition of the Gettysburgh Address is in accord with the superb work of Gary Wills in his book, "Lincoln At Gettysburgh" where Wills thoroughly debunks the myth that Lincoln wrote the Address on the back of an envelope on his way up on the train. Anyone who has frequent need to reference some of the greatest and enduring documents in American History will find this book an invaluable reference tool.
Rating:
Summary: The Declarationof Independence & Other Great Documents
Review: The Declaration of Independence and Other Great Documents of American History: 1775-1865 edited by John Grafton is an important collection of the heart and soul of what America is all about. These fourteen great documents are the foundation by which our American democratic republic was founded. Each of these documents has a short introduction giving the reader a basis in time, relevent to and providing fascinating background history and information about the author. 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.
Rating:
Summary: The Declarationof Independence & Other Great Documents
Review: The Declaration of Independence and Other Great Documents of American History: 1775-1865 edited by John Grafton is an important collection of the heart and soul of what America is all about. These fourteen great documents are the foundation by which our American democratic republic was founded. Each of these documents has a short introduction giving the reader a basis in time, relevent to and providing fascinating background history and information about the author. 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.
Rating:
Summary: Slim, but Powerful
Review: This is a quick and slim collection of founding American documents. Being small it fits anywhere, on your shelf or in the schoolbag. Get it for Poli. Sci. students, Law Students, and Historians, or for you patriotic friend for the Fourth of July or Patriot Day. It has the basics that every American needs to know. It has the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, plus speeches form Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, and the Gettysburg Address. You get a good feel for the movers and shakers at this nations founding. Ignorance is an unpardonable sin. We need to understand the past to understand the present. We need to get back to these ancient and sacred writings to understand our country. They are a trustworthy and reliable source of information about who we are. There are several omissions. I would have like to have the Mayflower Compact included. The Monroe Doctrine was also missing-terrible shame! I would have also to have the Northwest Ordinance. Furthermore, it would be helpful to have the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution only makes sense in context of the mistakes of the Articles of Confederation. Lastly, I would have included more from the Federalist Papers, such as 1, 2,13, 14, 55 and 84. But this would have bloated the book, thus loosing it's slim effectiveness. Maybe they could put all of this in a Volume II.
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