Author Edward A. Kole describes one of his books and provides links to purchase it and a companion volume. I am adding both to the Books to Read recommended list.
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Writer Edward A. Kole emailed the following message:
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I understand that “The View from 1776” purpose is, for the most part, to identify and preserve the political and moral principles of the Founding Generation.
The task would be simple if we could peer into the composite mind of the two and one-half million Americans that lived two hundred fourteen years ago. Still, in this matter we are incredibly fortunate. Between 1775 and 1791 one generation of Americans ratified a “Declaration of Independence,” and thirteen State Constitutions and the Constitutions that founded two Federal Republics.
We have written much about the Declaration of Independence, The Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. but, rarely have we seen each clause in the U.S. Constitution compared with every parallel clause of the first thirteen State Constitutions. Such a comparison becomes more meaningful when we consider that each of the State Constitutions were written before the U.S. Constitution. What this tells us is that the U.S. Constitution did not influence the State Constitutions and that the State Constitutions and the “Declaration of Independence” influenced the Federal Constitution.
The reason[s] for this oversight escapes me for all those documents were framed, established and ordained within a fifteen-year window, by the same people, for same reasons and context. When comparing like clauses from different documents, understanding political principles is easier when the same thoughts are presented in different words. “The True Intent of the First American Constitutions of 1776-1791” does that.
“The True Intent of the First American Constitutions of 1776-1791” brings the Colonial American political mainstream politics into our generation¹s political consciousness. “The True Intent of the First American Constitutions of 1776-1791” presents Early American principles, in the founder¹s words without the opinions and bias of our contemporaries, and all other interpretations advanced since 1791.
“The True Intent of the First American Constitutions of 1776-1791” is truly a comprehensive, unique and pristine presentation of Early American Constitutional thought.
What better way to discover the full meaning and intent of our Federal Constitution than by comparing the parallel clauses in the Constitution of the United States of America, with those of the thirteen State Constitutions and ³The Federalist.²
Obviously, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay considered all fifteen Constitutions worthy of comparison, discussion and interpretation for they frequently analyzed to them in their “Publius/Federalist” essays.
I believe this book will prove an excellent addition to your “Books to Read” list.
Sincerely, Edward A. Kole
The True Intent of The First American Constitutions of 1776-1791 ISBN: 0-7414-0235-1 ©1999 Buy it.
The First 13 Constitutions of the First American States ISBN: 0-7414-0210-6 ©1999 Buy it.
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