The Constitution and the Nation

This series is devoted to textbooks that explore the multidimensional and multidisciplinary areas of law and Politics. Special emphasis will be given to textbooks written for the undergraduate classroom. Subject matters to be addressed in this series include: constitutional law; civil rights and liberties issues; law, race, gender, and gender orientation studies; law and ethics; women and the law; judicial behavior and decision-making; legal theory; comparative legal systems; criminal justice; courts and the political process.

In 1937 the Supreme Court revolutionized American constitutionalism, sharply restricting the states' powers and expanding those of the national government. In following years the civil rights movement caused further change, challenging American life with its demands for equal rights under the Constitution and protection by the federal government. The Vietnam War expanded and then contracted presidential power. In 2001, attacks organized by followers of Osama bin Laden on American cities revived presidential power, leading to new challenges to America's constitutional heritage. This volume assembles the most important documents from American constitutional history from the depths of the Great Depression to the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001. Through these important documents, American constitutional power can be seen surging and waning, but always responding to the drama of world events.

Auteur

The Authors: Christopher Waldrep is Jamie and Phyllis Pasker Professor of History at San Francisco State University and author, most recently, of The Many Faces of Judge Lynch: Extralegal Violence and Punishment in America (2002).
Lynne Curry is Professor of History at Eastern Illinois University and author of Modern Mothers in the Heartland: Gender, Health, and Progress in Illinois, 1900-1930 (1999).

Résumé
«The four volumes of this new documentary sourcebook offer a fresh look at our constitutional past. In addition to excerpts from landmark decisions of the Supreme Court, the editors provide a host of other important documents - everything from England's Magna Carta to the U.S. Congress's authorization of the Iraq War - that illuminate the evolution of American constitutionalism. Students will benefit from the chance to hear these disparate voices of our constitutional heritage, while professors and teachers will appreciate the concise commentary and thoughtful organization. I strongly recommend them.» (Timothy S. Huebner, Rhodes College, author of 'The Southern Judicial Tradition: State Judges and Sectional Distinctiveness, 1790-1890')
«Christopher Waldrep and Lynne Curry have assembled a treasure trove of teaching materials on the Constitution. Students and teachers alike will find useful materials on women and the law, slavery, state's rights, and so much more. This anthology will be adopted in many classrooms because of the breadth of material included.» (Sally Hadden, Florida State University, author of 'Slave Patrols: Law and Violence in Virginia and the Carolinas')