The Constitution and Bill of Rights
Teacher Inquiry Kiosk

Books
Berkin, Carol.  "A Brilliant Solution:  Inventing the American Constitution."  New York: Harcourt, 2002.
Professor of History at Baruch College
Carol Berkin discusses the political climate and economic uncertainty under which the Constitution was created.  Beginning with the end of the Revolutionary War, she describes the events and sectional issues that affected the form and content of the Constitution.  In addition to an examination of the backgrounds and political motives of the delegates, Berkin discusses the compromises that allowed for the successful completion of the Constitutional Convention. 

Levy, Leonard.  "Origins of the Bill of Rights."  New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999.
Professor of Humanities at Claremont Graduate School, California
In this work, Levy looks at the creation and the original intention of the Bill of Rights.  In his analysis of each amendment, the author describes how each evolved out of the English common-law and the social and ideological environment present in the United States at the end of the Revolutionary War.

Morris, Richard.  "The Forging of the Union," 1781-1789.  New York:  Harper and Row, 1987.
Professor of History at Columbia University
Richard Morris examines the social, political and economic climate present at the end of the Revolutionary War, as the former colonies attempted to establish a new country.  Discussing topics such as the Confederation government, the Northwest Ordinance and the establishment of state constitutions, Morris describes how these and other controversial factors influenced the formation of the United States Constitution.   

Peters, William.  "A More Perfect Union."  New York: Crown Publishers, 1987. Writer/producer/director
In this week by week look at the Constitutional Convention, William Peters discusses the issues faced by delegates, their debates and the compromises they made. 

Rakove, Jack.  "Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution."  New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1996.
Professor of Political Science at Stanford
“Original Meanings examines the classic issues that the framers of the Constitution had to solve:  federalism, representation, executive power, individual rights, and the idea that the Constitution itself should become supreme law.  Rakove pays particular attention to James Madison, the Constitution’s presiding genius, whose brilliance shaped the document’s framing, ratification, and amendment.”  (This abstract was provided by the publishers and is available on the book cover.)

Articles
Amar, Akhil Reed.  “Women and the Constitution.”  Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy 18, no. 2 (Spring 1995):  465-75.
Professor of Law at the Yale Law School
“Presents a history of women and the United States Constitution.  Founding; Antebellum era; Reconstruction; Suffrage revolution.”  (Abstract from Inspire)
Access:  This article is available online through Inspire.

Burns, James MacGregor.  “What Turned Madison Around?”  American Heritage 41, no. 8
    Dec. 1990):  52-4.
Professor of Political Science at Williams College
“Offers a theory as to why James Madison changed his position on adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution.  Theories discussed such as the influence of Thomas Jefferson.”  (Abstract provided on Inspire.)
Access:  This article is available online through Inspire.

“The Constitution and American Life:  A Special Issue.”  Journal of American History 74, no. 3, (Dec. 1987).
In 1987, the Organization of American Historians published a special edition of its journal, focused on the development and changing nature of the United States Constitution and its impact on American society and culture.  Articles included in this edition include “Wrestling toward the Dawn: The Afro-American Freedom Movement and the Changing Constitution,” “The American Heritage: The Heirs and the Disinherited,” “Outgrowing the Compact of the Fathers: Equal Rights, Woman Suffrage, and the United States Constitution, 1820-1878” and “We, the Family: Constitutional Rights and American Families.”

Weisberger, Bernard.  “Amending America.”  American Heritage 46, no. 3 (May/June 1995):  24-6.
Writer/former professor at Wayne State University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Rochester
“States that Americans tend to view the US Constitution as permanent and inviolable--but that we also go through periods of time when we are wild to make changes to it.  How the Balanced Budget Amendment might become the twenty-eighth amendment to the Constitution; How the first ten, the Bill of Rights, were adopted in 1791 and can be considered part of the original; Overview of the next seventeen amendments and the political climate in which they were adopted.”  (Abstract provided on Inspire.)
Access:  This article is available online through Inspire.
 
Recommended Sources
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001
website: http://www.ourdocuments.gov

The Bill of Rights Institute
200 North Glebe Road, Suite 1050
Arlington, VA 22203
703.894.1776
website: http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/

Indiana Historical Bureau  (for Indiana Constitution)
Indiana State Library and Historical Building
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
317.232.2535
website: http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ihb/resources/constitutions.htm