Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Constitution

By (author) Richard S. Conley

Publication date:

16 August 2016

Length of book:

474 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442271883

The Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Constitution covers the Founding of the American Republic and the Framers, the drafting of the Constitution, constitutional debates over ratification, and traces key events, Supreme Court chief justices, amendments, and Supreme Court cases regarding the interpretation of the Constitution from 1789-2016.

The Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Constitution contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 300 cross-referenced entries on key figures in the Founding, Supreme Court chief justices, explanations of the Articles and Amendments to the Constitution, and key Supreme Court cases. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the U.S. Constitution.

Editor’s Foreword
Preface
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Chronology
Introduction
THE DICTIONARY
Appendix A: The Declaration of Independence and Signatories
Appendix B: The Constitution of the United States
Appendix C: Federalist No. 1
Appendix D: Federalist No. 2: Concerning Dangers from Foreign
Force and Influence
Appendix E: Federalist No. 9: The Union as a Safeguard Against
Domestic Faction and Insurrection
Appendix F: Federalist No. 10: The Same Subject Continued: The
Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection
Appendix G: Federalist No. 13: Advantage of the Union in Respect
to Economy in Government
Appendix H: Federalist No. 15: The Insufficiency of the Present
Confederation to Preserve the Union
Appendix I: Federalist No. 37: Concerning the Difficulties of the
Convention in Devising a Proper Form of Government
Appendix J: Federalist No. 46: The Influence of the State and
Federal Governments Compared
Appendix K: Federalist No. 51: The Structure of the Government
Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the
Different Departments
Appendix L: Federalist No. 52: The House of Representatives
Appendix M: Federalist No. 62: The Senate
Appendix N: Federalist No. 67: The Executive Department
Appendix O: Federalist No. 70: The Executive Department Further
Considered
Appendix P: Federalist No. 78: The Judiciary Department
Appendix Q: Federalist No. 85: Concluding Remarks
Appendix R: Anti-Federalist No. 1: General Introduction: A
Dangerous Plan of Benefit Only to the “Aristocratick
Combination”
Appendix S: Anti-Federalist No. 3: New Constitution Creates a
National Government; Will Not Abate Foreign Influence
Appendix T: Anti-Federalist No. 9: A Consolidated Government Is a
Tyranny
Appendix U: Anti-Federalist No. 14: Extent of Territory under
Consolidated Government Too Large to Preserve Liberty or
Protect Property
Appendix V: Anti-Federalist No. 21: Why the Articles Failed
Appendix W: Anti-Federalist No. 22: Articles of Confederation
Simply Requires Amendments, Particularly for Commercial
Power and Judicial Power; Constitution Goes Too Far
Appendix X: Anti-Federalist No. 37: Factions and the Constitution
Appendix Y: Anti-Federalist No. 47: “Balance” of Departments Not
Achieved under New Constitution
Appendix Z: Anti-Federalist No. 67: Various Fears Concerning the
Executive Department
Appendix AA: Anti-Federalist No. 84: On the Lack of a Bill of Rights
Appendix BB: Anti-Federalist No. 85: Concluding Remarks: Evils
under Confederation Exaggerated; Constitution Must Be
Drastically Revised Before Adoption
Appendix CC: Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, 1789–2016 407
Bibliography
About the Author

Celebrate as you wish the joys of online research, but this simply arranged and wonderfully comprehensive dictionary proves that ink on paper still deserves considerable respect. A welcome addition to the acclaimed Scarecrow Press series of historical dictionaries, this title covers Death penalty to Dred Scott, Gay rights to Gun rights, and School prayer to Stare decisis. Amendments, court cases, legislation, personages, and concepts of political theory are succinctly explained via cogent definitions and spot-on historical context. Accompanying the 200-plus pages of A-Z entries is a carefully chosen selection of Federalist Papers. This reference will be well received by both academic and armchair historians.