Summary
Unfold Book Jacket for a Full-Color Reproduction of the U.S. Constitution
With their book Signing Their Lives Away, Denise Kiernan and Joseph D'Agnese introduced readers to the 56 statesmen (and occasional scoundrels!) who signed the Declaration of Independence. Now they've turned their attention to the 39 men who met in the summer of 1787 and put their names to the U.S. Constitution.
Signing Their Rights Away chronicles a moment in American history when our elected officials knew how to compromise--and put aside personal gain for the greater good of the nation. These men were just as quirky and flawed as the elected officials we have today: Hugh Williamson believed in aliens, Robert Morris went to prison, Jonathan Dayton stole $18,000 from Congress, and Thomas Mifflin was ruined by alcohol. Yet somehow these imperfect men managed to craft the world's most perfect Constitution. With 39 mini-biographies and a reversible dust jacket that unfolds into a poster of the original document, Signing Their Rights Away offers an entertaining and enlightening narrative for history buffs of all ages.
Author Notes
Denise Kiernan is a journalist, producer, and the New York Times best-selling author of the narrative nonfiction books, The Last Castle and The Girls of Atomic City . Joseph D'Agnese is a journalist, author and ghostwriter who has written for both adults and children. With his wife, Denise Kiernan, he has authored several books on U.S. history, including Signing Their Lives Away , Signing Their Rights Away , and Stuff Every American Should Know . They live in North Carolina.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Kiernan and D'Agnese (coauthors of Signing Their Lives Away) return with an identical format for this companion volume. Opening with a brief historical background, they trace events before the creation of the U.S. Constitution, when the fledging United States was on the verge of political collapse due to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Amid fears of a civil war, distrustful delegates gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 to expand the Articles of Confederation, but in such a "contentious environment," many quit. The 39 who stayed are featured in minibiographies that do not always flatter them. Thomas Mifflin was a drunkard, Robert Morris "the signer who went to debtor's prison," while other signers, more gloriously, "overcame religious discrimination" or, mundanely, "lived the longest." At the end of lengthy heated debates, Benjamin Franklin urged everyone to set aside his dissatisfactions with the final document and "make manifest our unanimity" by signing it. All 39 delegates did so. This is a lightweight introduction to a crucial moment in American history that might appeal more to younger readers. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Following Signing Their Lives Away (2009), which focuses on the signers of the Declaration of Independence, this book offers capsule biographies of the 39 men whose signatures appear on the U.S. Constitution: Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James McHenry, and lesser-knowns including Gunning Bedford, Jr., whose life i. filled with mysterious gap. and whose skepticism or perhaps paranoia steered the Constitutional Convention toward a more fair representation for the states, and William Blount, who played a key role in North Carolina's ratification of the Constitution despite being a rather accomplished con artist and thief (and who, as governor of Tennessee and surrounding areas, wa. the first person ever impeached in the United States ). Sure, you can find out most of this stuff on the Internet, or by trawling through a stack of history texts, but it's extremely convenient to have it all between two covers. The book also contains the complete text of the Constitution and various other historical add-ons. For readers of American history, this is both educational and entertaining.--Pitt, Davi. Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-The Constitution is glorified, misquoted, and occasionally vilified, but few people doubt the impact of this oldest of functioning constitutions. This compact book presents short biographical sketches of the 39 signers in clear, accessible language. Organized by state, entries initially identify each man with his signature, a pen-and-ink portrait, his name, and a snappy descriptive phrase (e.g., "The Signer Who Lived the Longest," "The Signer Who Was Ruined by Drink"), along with birth and death dates, age at signing, profession, and burial site. At a uniform four pages each, the entries cover each subject's life prior to the Constitutional Convention, how he came to be present, contribution to the Constitution, and major events of later life. Opening with an informative introduction, comparison chart of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and a time line, the volume closes with the text of the Constitution and a "Miscellany" that includes information on preservation and printing and a list of convention attendees who did not sign. More detailed and for a slightly older audience than Dennis Fradin's The Founders: The 39 Stories Behind the U. S. Constitution (Walker, 2005), this entertainingly written book may take a bit of promotion due to the subject matter and dull cover.-Ann Welton, Helen B. Stafford Elementary, Tacoma, WA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Excerpts
Introduction Ask any person to name the single most important day in United States history, and they're likely to answer July 4, 1776. Every year, Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence by attending parades and watching fireworks. Most believe that the patriots defeated the British, as though in a football game, and then Americans lived happily ever after in blissful democracy. Nothing could be further from the truth. When the war ended in 1783, the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation. This fairly flimsy compact provided for a one-house Congress, one vote per state, and very little else. True, this Congress had a president, but he didn't derive his power from the people, and he was an intentionally weak figurehead. After all, the last thing the founding fathers wanted was another king. Within two years, the fledgling United States was on the verge of political collapse. The federal government had no power to tax people, goods, properties, or businesses. That may sound wonderful until you stop to consider all the consequences: The federal government had no revenue and issued no currency. There was no money for raising troops, building ships, or engaging in other activities vital to a nation's self-defense. The country was vulnerable to attack and domination by a host of foreign powers. At sea, American vessels were pirated by foreign ships; their cargo and passengers were frequently held for ransom. On land, British and Spanish factions were arming Native Americans and encouraging them to raid American settlements on the edges of the frontier. States took matters into their own hands. Nine states had their own naval forces and pursued their own foreign policies. They imposed taxes on goods from other states as though they were dealing with foreign countries. There were no courts to decide disagreements between states. Private banks were issuing their own currency, but their notes were often distrusted and viewed as IOUs that might never be repaid. Doing business with other states was challenging if not impossible. Seesawing cycles of inflation and deflation were destroying lives. Foreclosures skyrocketed, and banks began seizing the homes of poor farmers with unpaid mortgages. Many wealthy landowners feared a bloody class revolution--or an all-out civil war. Clearly something had to be done or the nation wouldn't live long enough to celebrate its eleventh birthday. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and a host of other bigwigs proposed a "grand convention" at which delegates would gather to revise, debate, and expand the Articles of Confederation. Seventy-four delegates were chosen by their respective states; only fifty-five answered the call, and many of those with skepticism. Patrick Henry, the famed Virginia rebel, refused to attend, complaining that he "smelt a rat." Rhode Island sent no representatives at all. In May of 1787, the willing participants journeyed to the very same Philadelphia building where the Declaration of Independence had been signed. True, these men had once banded together to fight as brothers against a common enemy, but now they were deeply distrustful of one another. Small states were suspicious of large states. The nation was divided over slavery. Every delegate arrived wanting something--but few were willing to sacrifice anything. In such a contentious environment, reaching compromise would be tough. More than a dozen delegates quit and went home before the convention's end. The thirty-nine who remained and signed the U.S. Constitution are the focus of this book. Signing Their Rights Away introduces you to the remarkable historical figures who jettisoned the limp and lifeless Articles of Confederation for a robust and rigorous document that provided the framework for an enduring system of government (at more than 230 years old, the U.S. Constitution is the oldest functioning constitution in the world). In the end, these men prioritized the welfare of their country over politics or personal advancement. They fought with great conviction--but they eventually came to understand that no single delegate could walk away with all the marbles. They agreed to compromise for the greater good. Yet, today, despite their heroic labors, most of them have lapsed into obscurity. They deserve better--if only because their stories are so interesting. At least twenty-two of the signers served in the military--as soldiers, chaplains, administrative officers--during the Revolutionary War. Five were captured and imprisoned by the British. Many lost homes, property, and loved ones to the war. Two died in duels; one attempted suicide. Most were educated, cosmopolitan gentlemen accustomed to a life of wealth and privilege. Eighteen of the signers were trained in law; the remainder were merchants, plantation owners, and financiers. They represented the views, expectations, and entitlements of the nation's elite. Such men had no problem ignoring the rights of women and slaves when designing their compact for government. Nor were they champions of free white men with meager property. (One signer sought to restrict government service to men with a net worth exceeding $100,000!) Having witnessed intimidation and mob violence at the hands of enemies and patriots alike, many of the signers didn't trust the American public. The idea of granting power to all individuals was a fairly radical idea. During debates, many signers repeatedly derided the notion that Josiah Q. Public could serve wisely in the House and Senate, or, heaven help us, the presidency. But in the end, enough members knew that this attitude did not reflect the principles of the revolution they had just fought. They were gutsy enough to give the "little guy" a shot at power. Anyone could be president, anyone could be senator--even you. So the next time September 17 rolls around, eat a hot dog, watch some fireworks, and celebrate Constitution Day--that fateful date in 1787 when thirty-nine sweaty men dressed in stockings signed their names to the United States Constitution. Remember how they argued, hoped, feared, persevered, and, most important, compromised to create a lasting document that still governs today. July 4 may be remembered as the day the United States was born, but September 17 marks the country's passage into adulthood, laying the groundwork for two centuries of remarkable expansion and spectacular achievements. Excerpted from Signing Their Rights Away by Denise Kiernan, Joseph D'Agnese All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.