Liberty Fund Books

Description

Many reference works offer compilations of critical documents covering individual liberty, local autonomy, constitutional order, and other issues that helped to shape the American political tradition. Yet few of those works are available in a form suitable for classroom use, and traditional textbooks give short shrift to these important issues.

The American Republic overcomes that knowledge gap by providing, in a single volume, critical, original documents revealing the character of American discourse on the nature and importance of local government, the purposes of federal union, and the role of religion and tradition in forming America’s drive for liberty.

The American Republic is divided into nine sections, each illustrating major philosophical, cultural, and policy positions at issue during crucial eras of American development. Readers will find documentary evidence of the purposes behind European settlement, American response to English acts, the pervasive role of religion in early American public life, and perspectives in the debate over independence.

Subsequent chapters examine the roots of American constitutionalism, Federalist and Anti-Federalist arguments concerning the need to protect common law rights, and the debates over whether the states or the federal government held final authority in determining the course of public policy in America. Also included are the discussions regarding disagreements over internal improvements and other federal measures aimed at binding the nation, particularly in the area of commerce.

The final section focuses on the political, cultural, and legal issues leading to the Civil War. Arguments and attempted compromises regarding slavery, along with laws that helped shape slavery, are highlighted. The volume ends with the prelude to the Civil War, a natural stopping-off point for studies of early American history.

By bringing together key original documents and other writings that explain cultural, religious, and historical concerns, this volume gives students, teachers, and general readers an effective way to begin examining the diversity of issues and influences that characterize American history. The result unquestionably leads to a deeper and more thorough understanding of America's political, institutional, and cultural continuity and change.

Bruce Frohnen is assistant professor of law at the Ave Maria School of Law in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His articles have appeared in numerous law reviews and political science journals, and he is the author of The New Communitarians and the Crisis of Modern Liberalism (1996) and Virtue and the Promise of Conservatism: The Legacy of Burke and Tocqueville (1993).

Click here for a pdf file of The American Republic brochure
Click here to print or download The American Republic index.

Reviews

The book can profitably be used as a text for introductory courses or seminars in political science or history for undergraduates, or legal or constitutional history for law students. Especially in the hardcover version it might also make a fine gift or coffee-table volume for any American history buff. Some of these pieces are not easy reading, but the effort is worthwhile, and Frohnen's comments elegantly illuminate the main themes in each…This is, in short, terrific stuff, and Frohnen’s book now deserves a place among the four or five best teaching tools for the development of the American republic…This is a discriminating, judicious, and—one is tempted to say—inspired and now indispensable selection of primary sources that will enrich the mind and soul of any American lucky enough to be taught from them.

Stephen B. Presser
The University Bookman

Table of Contents

Alphabetical Table of Contents xi
Alphabetical List of Authors xiii
List of Illustrations xv
Introduction xvii
Note on the Texts xxi

1 Colonial Settlements and Societies
Virginia Articles, Laws, and Orders, 1610 –11 4,
The Mayflower Compact, 1620 11
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639 12
The Massachusetts Body of Liberties, 1641 15
Charter of Liberties and Frame of Government of the Province of Pennsylvania in America, 1682 23
Dorchester Agreement, 1633 31
Maryland Act for Swearing Allegiance, 1638; Plymouth Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity, 1625 32
“Little Speech on Liberty,” John Winthrop, 1645 34
“Copy of a Letter from Mr. Cotton to Lord Say and Seal,” John Cotton, 1636 36

2 Religious Society and Religious Liberty in Early America
“The Bloody Tenent, of Persecution, for Cause of Conscience,” Roger Williams, 1644 42
“A Platform of Church Discipline,” John Cotton, Richard Mather, and Ralph Partridge, 1649 48
Providence Agreement, 1637; Maryland Act for Church Liberties, 1638; Pennsylvania Act for Freedom of Conscience, 1682 64
Worcestriensis, 1776 66
“Thanksgiving Proclamation ” and Letters to Religious Associations, George Washington; 1789,1790 69
“Farewell Address,” George Washington, 1796 72
“The Rights of Conscience Inalienable,” John Leland, 1791 79
“Letter to the Danbury Baptist Association,” Thomas Jefferson, 1802 88

3 Defending the Charters
Magna Charta, 1215 92
Petition of Right, 1628 98
“An Account of the Late Revolution in New England” and “Boston Declaration of Grievances,” Nathanael Blyfield, 1689 101
The English Bill of Rights, 1689 106
The Stamp Act, 1765 110
“Braintree Instructions,” John Adams, 1765 115
Resolutions of the Virginia House of Burgesses, 1765; Declarations of the Stamp Act Congress, 1765 117
“The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved,” James Otis, 1763 119
The Act Repealing the Stamp Act, 1766; The Declaratory Act, 1766 135

4 The War for Independence
“A Discourse at the Dedication of the Tree of Liberty,” “A Son of Liberty” [Silas Downer], 1768 140
“Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania,” Letters V and IX, John Dickinson, 1767–68 146
Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, 1774 154
Virginia Bill of Rights, 1776 157
“On Civil Liberty, Passive Obedience, and Non-resistance,” Jonathan Boucher, 1775 159
Common Sense, Thomas Paine, 1776 179
The Declaration of Independence, 1776 189

5 A New Constitution
“Thoughts on Government,” John Adams, 1776 196
Articles of Confederation, 1778 200
The Essex Result, 1778 205
Northwest Ordinance, 1787 225
Albany Plan of Union, 1754 229
Virginia and New Jersey Plans, 1787 231
The Constitution of the United States of America, 1787 234
The Federalist, Papers 1, 9, 10, 39, 47 –51, 78; Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay; 1787 241
“Address of the Minority of the Pennsylvania Convention,” 1787 268
“An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution,” Noah Webster, 1787 281

6 The Bill of Rights
The Federalist, Papers 84 and 85; Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay; 1787 300
“Letter I,” “Centinel,” 1787 309
“Essay I,” “Brutus,” 1787 314
“Letter III,” “The Federal Farmer,” 1787 320
“Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments,” James Madison, 1785; “ Virginia Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom,” Thomas Jefferson, 1786 327
“Speech Introducing Proposed Constitutional Amendments,” James Madison, 1789; Debate over First Amendment Language, 1789; The First Ten Amendments to the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights, 1789 332
Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, Joseph Story, 1833 351
The People v. Ruggles, James Kent, 1811 363
Marbury v. Madison, John Marshall, 1803 366
Barron v. the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, John Marshall, 1833 375

7 State versus Federal Authority
“Essay V,” “Brutus,” 1787 382
Chisholm v. Georgia, James Wilson, 1793; U.S. Constitution, Eleventh Amendment, 1787 386
The Alien and Sedition Acts, 1798; Virginia Resolutions, 1798; Kentucky Resolutions, 1798; Counter-resolutions of Other States,1799; Report of Virginia House of Delegates, 1799 396
“The Duty of Americans, at the Present Crisis,” Timothy Dwight, 1798 433
Report of the Hartford Convention, 1815 447
Joseph Story: Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, 1833; A Familiar Exposition of the Constitution of the United States, 1840 458

8 Forging a Nation
“Opinion against the Constitutionality of a National Bank,” Thomas Jefferson, 1791; “Opinion as to the Constitutionality of the Bank of the United States,” Alexander Hamilton, 1791 474
“Veto Message,” Andrew Jackson, 1832 491
“Veto Message,” James Madison, 1817 501
Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, Joseph Story, 1833 503
Abraham Lincoln: “Address to the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois,” 1838 ;“Address to the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” 1859 518
William Leggett: Newspaper Editorials on “Direct Taxation,” 1834; “Chief Justice Marshall,” 1835; “The Despotism of the Majority,” 1837; “Morals of Legislation,” 1837; and “The Morals of Politics,” 1837 528
“Speech on Electioneering,” Davy Crockett, 1848 536
“Speech before the U.S. Senate,” Daniel Webster, 1830; “Speech before the U.S. Senate,” Robert Y. Hayne, 1830 538 “Fort Hill Address,” John C. Calhoun, 1831 565

9 Prelude to War
Laws Regulating Servants and Slaves, 1630 –1852 582
“Slavery ” and “Agriculture and the Militia,” John Taylor of Caroline, 1818 589
The Missouri Compromise, 1820 –21 594
William Leggett: Newspaper Editorials on “Governor McDuffie’s Message,” 1835; “The Question of Slavery Narrowed to a Point,” 1837; and “‘Abolition Insolence,’” 1837 595
Senate Speeches on the Compromise of 1850, John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster, 1850 600
Second Fugitive Slave Law, 1850; Ableman v. Booth, Roger Taney, 1858 633
Scott v. Sandford, Roger Taney, 1856 646
“The Relative Position and Treatment of the Negroes ”and “The Abolitionists — Consistency of Their Labors,” George S. Sawyer, 1858 665
“What Is Slavery?” and “Slavery Is Despotism,” Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1853 690
Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1856; Fifth Lincoln-Douglas Debate, 1858 702

Bibliography 723

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

Alphabetical Table of Contents xi
Alphabetical List of Authors xiii
List of Illustrations xv
Introduction xvii
Note on the Texts xxi

Connecticut Law Regarding Escape of Negroes and Servants [no date given] 582
Magna Charta, 1215 92
Virginia Articles, Laws, and Orders, 1610 –11 4
The Mayflower Compact, 1620 11
Plymouth Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity, 1625 32
Petition of Right, 1628 98
Massachusetts Law on Capture and Protection of Servants, 1630–41 582
Dorchester Agreement, 1633 31
“Copy of a Letter from Mr. Cotton to Lord Say and Seal,” John Cotton, 1636 36
Providence Agreement, 1637 64
Maryland Act for Church Liberties, 1638 64
Maryland Act for Swearing Allegiance, 1638 32
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, 1639 12
The Massachusetts Body of Liberties, 1641 15
Maryland Law Deeming Runaway Apprentices to Be Felons, 1642 582
“The Bloody Tenent, of Persecution, for Cause of Conscience,” Roger Williams, 1644 42
“Little Speech on Liberty,” John Winthrop, 1645 34
“A Platform of Church Discipline,” John Cotton, Richard Mather, and Ralph Partridge, 1649 48
Charter of Liberties and Frame of Government of the Province of Pennsylvania in America, 1682 23
Pennsylvania Act for Freedom of Conscience, 1682 64
“An Account of the Late Revolution in New England” and “Boston Declaration of Grievances,” Nathanael Byfield, 1689 101
The English Bill of Rights, 1689 106
North Carolina Law against Entertaining Runaways, 1741 582
Albany Plan of Union, 1754 229
“The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved,” James Otis, 1763 119
“Braintree Instructions,” John Adams, 1765 115
Declarations of the Stamp Act Congress, 1765 117
Resolutions of the Virginia House of Burgesses, 1765 117
The Stamp Act, 1765 110
The Act Repealing the Stamp Act, 1766 135
The Declaratory Act, 1766 135
“Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania,” Letters V and IX, John Dickinson, 1767–68 146
“A Discourse at the Dedication of the Tree of Liberty,” “A Son of Liberty” [Silas Downer], 1768 140
Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress, 1774 154
“On Civil Liberty, Passive Obedience, and Non-resistance,” Jonathan Boucher, 1775 159
Common Sense, Thomas Paine, 1776 179
The Declaration of Independence, 1776 189
“Thoughts on Government,” John Adams, 1776 196
Virginia Bill of Rights, 1776 157
Worcestriensis, 1776 66
Articles of Confederation, 1778 200
The Essex Result, 1778 205
“Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments,” James Madison, 1785 327
“Virginia Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom,” Thomas Jefferson, 1786 327
“Address of the Minority of the Pennsylvania Convention,” 1787 268
The Constitution of the United States of America, 1787 234
“Essay I,” “Brutus,” 1787 314
“Essay V,” “Brutus,” 1787 382
“An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution,” Noah Webster, 1787 281
The Federalist, Papers 1, 9, 10, 39, 47 –51, 78; Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay; 1787 241
The Federalist, Papers 84 and 85; Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay; 1787 300
“Letter I,” “Centinel,” 1787 309
“Letter III,” “The Federal Farmer,” 1787 320
Northwest Ordinance, 1787 225
U.S. Constitution, Eleventh Amendment, 1787 386
Virginia and New Jersey Plans, 1787 231
The First Ten Amendments to the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights, 1789 332
Debate over First Amendment Language, 1789 332
The First Ten Amendments to the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights, 1789 332
Letter to the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, 1789 69
“Speech Introducing Proposed Constitutional Amendments,” James Madison, 1789 332
Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789 69
Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, 1790 69
Letter to the Roman Catholics in the United States of America, 1790 69
“Opinion against the Constitutionality of a National Bank,” Thomas Jefferson, 1791 474
“Opinion as to the Constitutionality of the Bank of the United States,” Alexander Hamilton, 1791 474
“The Rights of Conscience Inalienable,” John Leland, 1791 79
Chisholm v. Georgia, James Wilson, 1793 386
First Fugitive Slave Law, 1793 582
“Farewell Address,” George Washington, 1796 72
The Alien and Sedition Acts, 1798 396
“The Duty of Americans, at the Present Crisis,” Timothy Dwight, 1798 433
Kentucky Resolutions, 1798 396
Virginia Resolutions, 1798 396
Counter-resolutions of Other States, 1799 396
Report of Virginia House of Delegates, 1799 396
“Letter to the Danbury Baptist Association,” Thomas Jefferson, 1802 88
Marbury v. Madison, John Marshall, 1803 366
The People v. Ruggles, James Kent, 1811 363
Report of the Hartford Convention, 1815 447
“Veto Message,” James Madison, 1817 501
“Slavery” and “Agriculture and the Militia,” John Taylor of Caroline, 1818 589
The Missouri Compromise, 1820 –21 594
Maryland Resolutions Protesting against Pennsylvanians, 1821 582
“Speech before the U.S. Senate,” Daniel Webster, 1830 538
“Speech before the U.S. Senate,” Robert Y. Hayne, 1830 538
“Fort Hill Address,” John C. Calhoun, 1831 565
“Veto Message,” Andrew Jackson, 1832 491
Barron v. the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, John Marshall, 1833 375
Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, Joseph Story, 1833 351, 458, 503
“Direct Taxation,” William Leggett, 1834 528
“Chief Justice Marshall,” William Leggett, 1835 528
William Leggett: Newspaper Editorials on “Governor McDuffie’s Message,” 1835 595
“‘Abolition Insolence,’” William Leggett, 1837 595
“The Despotism of the Majority,” William Leggett, 1837 528
“Morals of Legislation,” William Leggett, 1837 528
“The Morals of Politics,” William Leggett, 1837 528
“The Question of Slavery Narrowed to a Point,” William Leggett, 1837 595
Abraham Lincoln: “Address to the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois,” 1838 518
A Familiar Exposition of the Constitution of the United States, Joseph Story, 1840 458
“Speech on Electioneering,” Davy Crockett, 1848 536
The Constitution and the Union, 1850 600
Second Fugitive Slave Law, 1850 633
Speech on the Slavery Question, John C. Calhoun, 1850 600
Alabama Slave Code, 1852 582
Scott v. Sandford, Roger Taney, 1856 646
“What Is Slavery?” and “Slavery Is Despotism,” Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1853 690
Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1856 702
Ableman v. Booth, Roger Taney, 1858 633
Fifth Lincoln-Douglas Debate, 1858 702
“The Relative Position and Treatment of the Negroes” and “The Abolitionists —Consistency of Their Labors,” George S. Sawyer, 1858 665
“Address to the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” Abraham Lincoln, 1859 518

Bibliography 723