THE FRAMING AND RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

by Leonard W. & Dennis J. Mahoney--Eds. Levy ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1987

In this season of the Constitution, we are served up yet another selection of writings on that document, this a compendium of 21 essays by as many scholars. There have been so many books attempting to shed light upon the Constitution in the past year that one must search hard for an original approach. Here, the search yields nothing of the sort, as the operative word is ""caution."" About the nearest approach to controversy occurs in ""The Constitution: An Economic Document?"" by James Hutson, which argues valiantly against Charles Beard's famed An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution. But Beard's theory already has long since been put to rest by scholars, so the hype falls flat. Levy, the co-editor, provides a neat introductory essay, in which he demonstrates that the Constitution of 1787 would have been ""unthinkable in 1776, impossible in 1781. . ."" But the 1780's showed that ""excessive localism was incompatible with nationhood."" Levy argues that the Confederation bequeathed the fundamentals of ""a federal system, a national domain, and a solution to the colonial problem."" The Articles themselves were insufficient, as they provided no enforcement for states to fulfill obligations. So the framers solved the problem by creating a federal government that was independent of state power. The impetus to the Constitution has usually been found in compromise. However, Levy demonstrates that consensus, not compromise, was the driving force at the convention, showing how, one after another, most of the key issues of federal supremacy were agreed to with not a single ""nay"" vote. Unexceptionable commentary that further clarifies the Constitution in its bicentennial year.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Collier/Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1987

Categories: NONFICTION