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James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights by
Today we hold the Constitution in such high regard that we can hardly imagine how hotly contested was its adoption. In fact, many of the thirteen states saw fierce debate over the document, and ratification was by no means certain. Virginia, the largest and most influential state, approved theConstitution by the barest of margins, and only after an epic political battle between James Madison and Patrick Henry. Now Richard Labunski offers a dramatic account of a time when the entire American experiment hung in the balance, only to be saved by the most unlikely of heroes--the diminutiveand exceedingly shy Madison. Here is a vividly written account of not one but several major political struggles which changed the course of American history. Labunski takes us inside the sweltering converted theater in Richmond, where for three grueling weeks, the soft-spoken Madison and the charismatic Patrick Henryfought over whether Virginia should ratify the Constitution. The stakes were enormous. If Virginia voted no, George Washington could not become president, New York might follow suit and reject the Constitution, and the young nation would be thrust into political chaos. But Madison won the day by ahandful of votes, mollifying Anti-Federalist fears by promising to add a bill of rights to the Constitution. To do this, Madison would have to win a seat in the First Congress. Labunski shows how the vengeful Henry prevented Madison's appointment to the Senate and then used his political power toensure that Madison would run against his good friend, Revolutionary War hero James Monroe, in a House district teeming with political enemies. Overcoming great odds, Madison won by a few hundred votes, allowing him to attend the First Congress and sponsor the Bill of Rights. Packed with colorful details about life in early America, this compelling and important narrative is the first serious book about Madison written in many years. It will return this under-appreciated patriot to his rightful place among the Founding Fathers and shed new light on a key turningpoint in our nation's history.
Call Number: KF 4749 .L32 2006ISBN: 0195181050Publication Date: 2006-07-04
Origins of the Bill of Rights by
A history of the origins of the Bill of Rights. It offers a panoramic view of the liberties secured by the first ten amendments to the Constitution - with an analysis of the background of the Bill of Rights meaning of each provision of the amendments.
Call Number: Electronic ResourceISBN: 9780300078022Publication Date: 1999-07-11
The Essential Bill of Rights by
The Essential Bill of Rights: Original Arguments and Fundamental Documents provides the convenience of an affordable and accessible compilation of the original, essential documents and arguments that eventually led to the adoption of the Bill of Rights in the United States.
Call Number: KF4744 1998ISBN: 0761810757Publication Date: 1998-04-30
The Bill of Rights in Modern America by
Informed by a historical perspective, this volume features essays that focus on contemporary issues and explore the understanding of the Bill of Rights. These essays include: Rights Consciousness in American History; The Explosion and Erosion of Rights; Symbolic Speech and the First Amendment; and more.
Call Number: KF4550 .A2 B49 1993ISBN: 0253207673Publication Date: 1993-02-01- The Future of Our Liberties by Vince Boudreau compares strategies of repression and protest in post-war Burma, Indonesia and the Philippines because these alternative strategies shaped the social bases and opposition cultures available to dissidents and, in turn, influenced their effectiveness. He includes first-hand research as well as the the social movements' literature to consider the interactions between the regimes in the wake of repression, and the subsequent emergence of democracy. Boudreau offers a genuinely comparative study of dictatorship and resistance in South East Asia.Call Number: KF4749 .F87 1982ISBN: 0313223661Publication Date: 1982-08-17
The Bill of Rights by
Which freedoms do Americans hold most dear? The Bill of Rights is a list of important freedoms shared by everyone in the United States. Join President James Madison to find out how the Bill of Rights came to be. Also, discover what it means to people today.
Call Number: KF 4750 .Z9 P43 2007ISBN: 9781404822139Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Bill of Rights Day
December 15 is designated as Bill of Rights Day to commemorate the ratification of the document on December 15, 1791. This year marks the 225th anniversary. Learn more about the Bill of Rights through the Gregg-Graniteville Library.
Bill of Rights Display in the Gregg-Graniteville Library
