The Constitution and America's destiny / David Brian Robertson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Robertson, David Brian, 1951-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Constitutional history--United States.

Constitutional history.

United States.

United States--Politics and government--1783-1789.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xix, 283 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, U.K. ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2005.

Summary:

David Brian Robertson explains how the U.S. Constitution emerged from an intense battle between a bold vision for the nation's political future and the tenacious defense of its political present. Given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to alter America's destiny, James Madison laid before the Constitutional Convention a plan for a strong centralized government that could battle for America's long-term interests. But delegates from vulnerable states resisted this plan, seeking instead to maintain state control over most of American life while adding a few more specific powers to the existing government.

Contents:

Politics and the Constitution

The policy crisis of the 1780s

James Madison's plan for the Constitutional Convention

The political landscape of the Constitutional Convention

Who governs? : constituting policy agency

What can be governed? : constituting policy authority

How is the nation governed? : constituting the policy process

Our inheritance : the Constitution and American politics.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0521845556

0521607787

OCLC:

57373985

Publisher Number:

9780521845557

9780521607780