Basic Documents in American History

by Richard B. Morris

Timely and timeless, these basic documents are designed to remind us of the durable qualities of American values and traditions, and how adaptable they are to a changing world. This concise collection forcibly demonstrates that national growth and prosperity have been achieved in the face of honest and persistent differences of opinion over policy, both domestic and foreign. Included are Supreme Court decisions banning segregation of races in public schools, and President Kennedy's proclamation of a quarantine of offensive weapons to Cuba.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Classics

193 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1965

About the author

Richard Brandon Morris was Gouverneur Morris Professor of History at Columbia University & past president of the American Historical Association. He wrote more than 40 books spanning legal, labor, diplomatic, political & social history, including The Peacemakers: The Great Powers & American Independence, The Forging of the Union 1781-89, Witnesses at the Creation, Government & Labor in Early America & Studies in the History of American Law. He lectured throughout the world, serving as Fulbright Research Professor at the Sorbonne & Distinguished Professor at the John F. Kennedy Institute of the Free University of Berlin.

Reviews

[Matthew Calvin]

I read this book alongside a reading group where we were reading founding documents of American history. It put into perspective how much easier is and more rewarding to read a book as part of a group as opposed on your own. I was reading several of these documents and thinking I wasn't getting a huge amount out of it and that I'd get more if there was someone I could discuss with.

A couple of interesting things about this book first the book was published in 1965 I have a reprint from 1986 and it is missing amendments 23 through 26 (also obviously 27 which was passed in 1992).

Also the book is 193 pages long, and to save paper, prints the 193rd page on the backcover.

[Colleen]

It's hard to rate this as a "book", but in terms of historical importance and the writings contained within it's all 5 stars

[Dayla]

This should be reread every year, no more so than in presidential election years.

[Jeff Beland]

This was the first book of American documents that I picked up when I started becoming interested in politics when I was in my early twenties. It's a truly awesome book. I wish they would teach this in colleges. I had several friends who were going to college reading much larger volumes and being told what to think about them by their instructors, whom had no clue what the founding documents actually said. I truly enjoyed reading this book and I have never regretted learning what it's pages had to teach me. I only regret that I haven't been able to find anybody in the younger generation willing to take the short amount of time to learn the lessons that these documents have to teach.

[Derrick Isaacson]

It's amazing to read the actual documents upon which America is founded. I particularly love the words of the Founding Fathers. It's eye opening to hear them expound the principles of freedom, and to learn their beliefs directly.

[Carol]

An incredible reminder of how our domestic and foreign policy evolved, and the great minds involved in the process.