Description
Book SynopsisMost Americans revere their Constitution yet know relatively little about its origins. Indeed, until now, nobody has written a comprehensive history of the Constitution''s making. Based on prodigious research and told largely through participants'' voices, Michael J. Klarman''s The Framers'' Coup: The Making of the United States Constitution fills that void. Klarman''s narrative features colorful characters and riveting stories, such as the rebellion by debtor farmers in Massachusetts that contributed enormously to the Constitution''s creation, George Washington''s agonized deliberations over whether to attend the Philadelphia convention, Patrick Henry''s demagogic efforts to defeat ratification in Virginia, and the political machinations of Alexander Hamilton and John Jay at the New York ratifying convention that produced an improbable victory for ratification. Three principal themes characterize Klarman''s narrative. The first is contingency. The Philadelphia convention almost did no
Trade ReviewAfter more than two centuries, it seemed unlikely that anything new could be said about the drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution. Michael Klarman has managed to do so. He has given us the most thorough account in print of the men and issues that shaped American political culture. It would be conforting to think that the people who wave copies of the Constitution at election rallies would actually read Klarman's provocative book. * T. H. Breen, Times Literary Supplement *
Klarman...offers a pragmatic, even quotidian, explanation, taking the reader through the most minute historical detail and presenting quite literally everything anyone interested in the coming-to-be of the US Constitution would possibly want: theory, philosophy, history, theology, religion, politics, economics-and just plain random chance. And he weaves it all together with a master storyteller's ear for just the right phrase and just the right dramatic line. This reviewer is amazed by what the author has accomplished. This is not the first thing he's written, and yet it feels like something one would spend an entire academic career writing. The documentation is astonishing, and is alone worth the price of this (extremely large!) volume. This reviewer had a grand time reading this, and cannot wait to do it again. This is an amazing piece of work....Essential * M. Berheide, CHOICE *
The central strength of this book is its deep familiarity with primary sources * John R. Vile, The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Flaws in the Articles of Confederation Chapter 2: Economic Turmoil in the States and the Road to Philadelphia Chapter 3: The Constitutional Convention Chapter 4: Slavery and the Constitutional Constitution Chapter 5: Critics of the Constitution: The Antifederalists Chapter 6: The Ratifying Contest Chapter 7: The Bill of Rights Chapter 8: Conclusion
