Crossroads for Liberty: Recovering the Anti-Federalist Values of America's First Constitution

by William J. Watkins, Jr.

Overview

What did the American Founders actually intend for the country, and does it even matter today? If America began as an idea, then what kind of idea? In a time of increasing turmoil over American history, politics, and society, Crossroads for Liberty: Recovering the Anti-Federalist Values of America’s First Constitution takes a surprising and thought-provoking look at the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, and asks what we can learn from them.
 
Crossroads for Liberty arrives at an important time in American political life, and its reexamination of the American Founding presents a significant contribution to the story about America. Readers will come away with a greater understanding of current political and constitutional issues, as well as a new perspective on American history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598132793
Publisher:	Independent Institute, The
Publication date:	10/01/2016
Edition description:	None
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	1,022,165
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 6.30(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

William J. Watkins, Jr. is the author of Reclaiming the American Revolution, Patent Trolls, and Judicial Monarchs. He is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute, and has worked as both a prosecutor and defense lawyer. William is a summa cum laude graduate of Clemson University and cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xv

Abbreviations xvii

Dramatis Personae xix

Introduction 1

1 Hopeful Petitioners 5

2 The Issue Forced 15

3 Confederation 27

4 Toward Philadelphia 39

5 The Problem of Scale 49

6 Consolidation 61

7 Taxing and Spending for the General Welfare 69

8 The Regulation of Commerce 81

9 The Necessary and Proper Clause 93

10 Voter Qualifications 101

11 Standing Armies 107

12 The Commander in Chief 119

13 The Judiciary 129

14 Treaties 143

15 The Amendment Process 153

16 Rights, Amendments, and Alterations 163

17 A Tub to a Whale 185

18 Mending the Venerable Fabric 199

19 Lessons for Today 209

Appendix A Articles of Confederation (1778) 227

Appendix B Constitution of the United States (1787) 237

Appendix C Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America 249

Appendix D Lessons from the Confederate Constitution 261

Notes 273

Selected Bibliography 291

Index 297

About the Author 315