Contested Conventions

The Struggle to Establish the Constitution and Save the Union, 1787–1789

Nonfiction, History, Americas, United States, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book Contested Conventions by Melvin Yazawa, Johns Hopkins University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Melvin Yazawa ISBN: 9781421420271
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press Publication: August 15, 2016
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Melvin Yazawa
ISBN: 9781421420271
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication: August 15, 2016
Imprint:
Language: English

There is perhaps no more critical juncture in American history than the years in which Americans drafted the federal Constitution, fiercely debated its merits and failings, and adopted it, albeit with reservations. In Contested Conventions, senior historian Melvin Yazawa examines the political and ideological clashes that accompanied the transformation of the country from a loose confederation of states to a more perfect union.

Treating the 1787–1789 period as a whole, the book highlights the contingent nature of the struggle to establish the Constitution and brings into focus the overriding concern of the framers and ratifiers, who struggled to counter what Alexander Hamilton identified as the "centrifugal" forces driving Americans toward a disastrous disunion. This concern inspired the delegates in Philadelphia to resolve through compromise the two most divisive confrontations of the Constitutional Convention—representation in the new Congress and slavery—and was instrumental in gaining ratification even in states where Antifederalist delegates comprised a substantial majority.

Arguing that the debates over ratification reflected competing ideas about the meaning of American nationhood, Yazawa illuminates the nature of the crisis that necessitated the meeting at Philadelphia in the first place. Contested Conventions is a cohesive and compelling account of the defining issues that led to the establishment of the Constitution; it should appeal to history students and scholars alike.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

There is perhaps no more critical juncture in American history than the years in which Americans drafted the federal Constitution, fiercely debated its merits and failings, and adopted it, albeit with reservations. In Contested Conventions, senior historian Melvin Yazawa examines the political and ideological clashes that accompanied the transformation of the country from a loose confederation of states to a more perfect union.

Treating the 1787–1789 period as a whole, the book highlights the contingent nature of the struggle to establish the Constitution and brings into focus the overriding concern of the framers and ratifiers, who struggled to counter what Alexander Hamilton identified as the "centrifugal" forces driving Americans toward a disastrous disunion. This concern inspired the delegates in Philadelphia to resolve through compromise the two most divisive confrontations of the Constitutional Convention—representation in the new Congress and slavery—and was instrumental in gaining ratification even in states where Antifederalist delegates comprised a substantial majority.

Arguing that the debates over ratification reflected competing ideas about the meaning of American nationhood, Yazawa illuminates the nature of the crisis that necessitated the meeting at Philadelphia in the first place. Contested Conventions is a cohesive and compelling account of the defining issues that led to the establishment of the Constitution; it should appeal to history students and scholars alike.

More books from Johns Hopkins University Press

Cover of the book Living with Schizophrenia by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book Wild by Nature by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book National Security through a Cockeyed Lens by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book Slavery's Ghost by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book Diving Beetles of the World by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book Piers Plowman by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book Marrow of Tragedy by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book An Equation for Every Occasion by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book Pacifists in Chains by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book Crisis in an Atlantic Empire by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book Ethical Issues in Rural Health Care by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book The 160-Character Solution by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book Psychiatric Polarities by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book Accreditation on the Edge by Melvin Yazawa
Cover of the book The Complete Poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley by Melvin Yazawa
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy