The Revolutionary Constitution

David J. Bodenhamer is Founder and Executive Director of The Polis Center, Professor of History, and Adjunct Professor of Informatics at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. He is the author or editor of several books on American legal and constitutional history, including Fair Trial: Rights of the Accused in American History, and is co-editor of the International Journal of Humanities and Arts Computing.

• Introduction ; Chapter 1: Antecedents ; Chapter 2: Revolution ; Chapter 3: Mechanics ; Chapter 4: Federalism ; Chapter 5: Balance ; Chapter 6: Property ; Chapter 7: Representation ; Chapter 8: Equality ; Chapter 9: Rights ; Chapter 10: Security ; Further Reading ; Index

"David J. Bodenhamer has written a lucid and informative topical history of American constitutional law and constitutionalism in The Revolutionary Constitution. Bodenhamer has provided a constitutional history that embraces a very modern understanding of constitutionalism. Arranging the book in ten topical chapters, Bodenhamer addresses each topic in isolation, covering the full American historical period for the respective topic. The result is aseries of essays about important themes of American constitutional history, such as the origins of constitutionalism in America, federalism, equality, rights, and--Bodenhamer's overarching intended theme--thehistory of 'power and liberty.'"--Ian J. Drake, H-Law"Usefully illuminates both the development and contemporary significance of constitutional ideas and practices. As the author of previous works on the history of legal rights in the United States, Bodenhamer is well positioned to elucidate the ways the Constitution has evolved over time and how liberty is realized through its terms. For readers looking for a historically sensitive introduction to the American constitutional system, The RevolutionaryConstitution should serve them well."--Journal of American History"[Bodenhamer's] writing is highly informed and elegant, and his judgements are sound...Highly recommended."--CHOICE"In The Revolutionary Constitution, David J. Bodenhamer chronicles how the lodestars of power and liberty have guided American constitutionalism. Fascinating chapters spanning the history of the republic demonstrate that the revolutionary generation framed but did not resolve fundamental issues like federalism, representation, and equality. Instead, Bodenhamer's compelling and concise constitutional history reveals that Americans have devisedgenerational solutions to persistent challenges like these as they constantly renewed the nation's revolutionary heritage."--Michael Grossberg, co-editor of The Cambridge History of Law in America"David Bodenhamer has written a book every student of the Constitution, as well as anyone interested in how our nation developed, should read. It argues convincingly and lucidly that the Constitution was the result of an amazing revolutionary movement, and that its vitality comes not from the dead hand of the past, but from the Framers' genius in drafting a document that would allow future generations to maintain that spirit."--Melvin I. Urofsky, author ofLouis D. Brandeis: A Life