America's Founding Charters [Three Volumes] Primary Documents of Colonial and Revolutionary Era Governance

Subjects:

• History » American History (General)
• Political Science » American Politics/Government
• Law » Constitutional Law
• History » American History -- Colonial Era

Reviews:

• America's Founding Charters authoritatively assembles 260 documents on the "origins, developments and growth, and defenses of colonial governance." The only such comprehensive title in print, it covers governance from founding to revolution (1578-1787). Although intended to illustrate "how and even why our system of governance has developed the way it has" (rather than Colonial social developments or growing political divisions), the work nonetheless demonstrates the internal discord of the time. All three volumes are arranged chronologically; chapters and subchapters are placed in historical context with numerous 50-500-word commentaries....Well indexed, with worthwhile sources cited, this set will be useful to universities with collections/special collections concerning Colonial America. Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers.
  —Choice July 2007
• This three-volume resource for students and general readers reproduces a broad assortment of major primary documents that illuminate how the U.S. system of governance that was eventually codified in the Constitution of 1787 evolved from Colonial times through the Revolutionary era. Included are statutes, charters, pamphlets, speeches, state constitutions, and more. The three volumes cover distinct periods in the growth of American governance. Each volume has a separate editorial introduction, as do the individual chapters. A bibliographical essay found at the back of the third volume directs readers to both primary and secondary sources.
  —Reference & Research Book News May 2007
• The U.S. Constitution and present form of government were developed not only by the group considered to be the Founding Fathers but by all the discussions and writings concerning the formation of government in all of the colonies from their inception. This set brings together 260 primary documents from 1578 to 1787 that form the basis of the colonial and pre-revolutionary governments....This is an attractively packaged reference source, with a straightforward single purpose....It is a recommended purchase for academic institutions with an American history program and desirable for larger public libraries.
  —Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin May 1, 2007

Table of Contents:

• Preface: The Study of Governance
• Introduction: Origins, 15802-1688
• Part I: Ideas on Governance and First Charters
• 1. Ideas on Governance
• 2. First Charters
• Part II: Charters and Essential Governing Documents
• 3. Virginia, First Settled 1607
• 4. Massachusetts Bay, 1630
• 5. Maryland, 1634
• 6. Connecticut, 1636
• 7. Rhode Island, 1637
• 8. New York, 1663
• 9. New Jersey
• 10. Carolinas, 1664
• 11. New Hampshire, 1679
• 12. Pennsylvania, 1680-1681
• Part III: Consolidation of Colonies and Resistance: Dominion Status, 1685-1689
• 13. Dominion of New England
• 14. Parliament of England's Response to the Glorious Revolution of 1688/89
• Part IV: Governmental Developments During the Eighteenth Century
• 15. Virginia
• 16. Massachusetts Bay
• 17. Maryland
• 18. Connecticut
• 19. Rhode Island
• 20. New York
• 21. New Jersey
• 22. South Carolina
• 23. North Carolina
• 24. New Hampshire
• 25. Pennsylvania
• 26. Delaware
• 27. Georgia
• Part V: Essays on Governanace and Defense of Colonial Government
• 28. Overviews of Colonial Governance
• 29. Defenses of Colonial Governance
• Part VI: Plans for Unity, Divided Colonies, and United Independence
• 30. Unity Proposed and Deferred
• 31. Internal Division
• 32. Toward Independence and Unity
• Volume III
• Introduction: Governance in the Confederation Period, 1776-1787
• Part VII: The First State Constitutions: Debates, Adoptions, and Amendments
• 33. New Hampshire, January 5, 1776
• 34. South Carolina, March 26, 1776
• 35. Virginia, June 29, 1776
• 36. New Jersey, July 2, 1776
• 37. Delaware, September 11, 1776
• 38. Pennsylvania, September 28, 1776
• 39. Connecticut and Rhode Island
• 40. Maryland, November 11, 1776
• 41. North Carolina, December 18, 1776
• 42. Georgia, February 5, 1777
• 43. New York, April 20, 1777
• 44. Vermont, July 8, 1777
• 45. Massachusetts, June 16, 1780
• Part VIII: The Articles of Confederation: Proposed, Debated, and Ratified
• 46. Drafts of the Articles of Confederation and Discussion in the Continental Congress
• 47. The States and Ratification of the Articles of Confederation
• Part IX: Continental Congress as the National Government
• 48. Congress at Work and Changes Made in Governance, 1776-1787
• 49. Criticism and Defense of Congress Under the Articles
• Afterword: The Meaning of Governance in America
• Essay on Sources Consulted
• Index