John P. Kaminski is the director of The Center for the Study of the American Constitution at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has written and spoken widely on the Constitution. He is a former president of The Association for Documentary Editing. Richard Leffler is associate director of The Center for the Study of the American Constitution at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and associate editor of The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution.

Anyone curious to explore the issues that shaped the founding of our nation will find here a fine sampling of contemporary thought that provides an excellent foundation for better understanding the Constitution. . . . This book will be a boon for those who teach about the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

• Chapter 1 IntroductionPart 2 1. The Constitution and the Nature of Republican GovernmentPart 3 AntifederalistChapter 4 Brutus I, New York Journal, 18 October 1787Chapter 5 Cato III, New York Journal, 25 October 1787Chapter 6 An Old Whig IV, Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 27 October 1787Part 7 FederalistChapter 8 James Wilson Speech, Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention, 24 November 1787Chapter 9 Publius: The Federalist 39, New York Independent Journal, 16 January 1788Chapter 10 Publius: The Federalist 10, New York Daily Advertiser, 22 November 1787Chapter 11 Edmund Randolph Speech, Virginia Ratifying Convention, 6 June 1788Chapter 12 Francis Corbin Speech, Virginia Ratifying Convention, 7 June 1788Chapter 13 Edmund Randolph Speech, Virginia Ratifying Convention, 10 June 1788Part 14 2. The House of RepresentativesPart 15 AntifederalistChapter 16 Luther Martin: Genuine Information, Baltimore Maryland Gazette, 1 January 1788Chapter 17 George Mason Speech, Virginia Ratifying Convention, 4 June 1788Chapter 18 Patrick Henry Speech, Virginia Ratifying Convention, 5 June 1788Part 19 FederalistChapter 20 An American Citizen III, Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 29 September 1787Chapter 21 Publius: The Federalist 35, New York Independent Journal, 5 January 1788Chapter 22 Publius: The Federalist 52, New York Packet, 8 February 1788Chapter 23 Publius: The Federalist 53, New York Independent Journal, 9 February 1788Chapter 24 Publius: The Federalist 55, New York Independent Journal, 13 February 1788Chapter 25 Publius: The Federalist 56, New York Independent Journal, 16 February 1788Part 26 3. The SenatePart 27 AntifederalistChapter 28 Federal Farmer, c. 8 November 1787Chapter 29 Cincinnatus IV, New York Journal, 22 November 1787Chapter 30 Luther Martin: Genuine Information, Baltimore Maryland Gazette, 8 January 1788Part 31 FederalistChapter 32 An American Citizen II, Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 28 September 1787Chapter 33 Publius: The Federalist 62, New York Independent Journal, 27 February 1788Part 34 4. The PresidentPart 35 AntifederalistChapter 36 An Old Whig V, Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 1 November 1787Chapter 37 Luther Martin: Genuine Information, Baltimore Maryland Gazette, 29 January 1788Part 38 Antifederalist and FederalistChapter 39 Virginia Ratifying Convention Debates, 17-18 June 1788Part 40 FederalistChapter 41 An American Citizen I, Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 26 September 1787Chapter 42 Publius: The Federalist 67, New York Packet, 11 March 1788Chapter 43 Publius: The Federalist 69, New York Packet, 14 March 1788Chapter 44 Publius: The Federalist 73, New York Packet, 21 March 1788Chapter 45 Publius: The Federalist 74, New York Packet, 25 March 1788Part 46 5. The JudiciaryPart 47 AntifederalistChapter 48 Brutus XI, New York Journal, 31 January 1788Chapter 49 Federal Farmer, c. 8 November 1787Chapter 50 Centinel II, Philadelphia Freeman's Journal, 24 October 1787Chapter 51 An Old Whig III, Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 20 October 1787Chapter 52 Dissent of the Minority of the Pennsylvania Convention, Pennsylvania Packet, 18 December 1787Part 53 FederalistChapter 54 Publius: The Federalist 78, 28 May 1788Chapter 55 Publius: The Federalist 80, 28 May 1788Chapter 56 Publius: The Federalist 81, 28 May 1788Part 57 6. The Bill of RightsPart 58 AntifederalistChapter 59 Richard Henry Lee to Edmund Randolph, 16 October 1787Chapter 60 An Old Whig IV, Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 27 October 1787Chapter 61 Brutus II, New York Journal, 1 November 1787Chapter 62 John Smilie Speech, Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention, 28 November 1787Chapter 63 Robert Whitehill Speech, Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention, 28 November 1787Part 64 FederalistsChapter 65 James Wilson Speech, 6 October 1787Chapter 66 A Countryman II, New Haven Gazette, 22 November 1787Chapter 67 James Wilson Speech, Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention, 28 November 1787Chapter 68 Publius: The Federalist 84, 28 May 1788Part 69 7. The Constitution: Debate Over Property, Class, and GovernmentPart 70 Outsiders View American SocietyChapter 71 Louis Guillaume Otto to Comte de Vergennes, 10 October 1786Chapter 72 Comte de Moustier to Comte de Montmorin, 2 August 1788Part 73 AntifederalistsChapter 74 Federal Farmer, c. 8 November 1787Chapter 75 Centinel III, Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, 8 November 1787Chapter 76 A Plebeian: An Address to the People of the State of New York, 17 April 1788Chapter 77 Federal Farmer: An Additional Number of Letters to the Republican, 2 May 1788Chapter 78 Melancton Smith Speech, New York Ratifying Convention, 21 June 1788Part 79 FederalistsChapter 80 James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 24 October 1787Chapter 81 A Landholder I, Connecticut Courant, 5 November 1787Chapter 82 A Landholder II, Connecticut Courant, 12 November 1787Chapter 83 Resolutions of the Tradesmen of Boston, 7 January 1788Chapter 84 Benjamin Rush to Jeremy Belknap, 28 February 1788Chapter 85 Francis Hopkinson to Thomas Jefferson, 6 April 1788Chapter 86 David Ramsay Oration, Charleston Columbia Herald, 5 June 1788Chapter 87 Edmund Pendleton Speech, Virginia Ratifying Convention, 12 June 1788Chapter 88 Alexander Hamilton Speech, New York Ratifying Convention, 21 June 1788Chapter 89 Index