American Bedrock: Exploring the Declaration of Independence and the U. S. Constitution

In the United States of America we annually celebrate our independence on July 4th, commemorating the 1776 congressional approval of the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution of the United States of America was completed several years later. It was signed by members of the Congress of the Confederation on September 17, 1787, and submitted to the states for ratification shortly thereafter. Rhode Island, on May 29, 1790, became the thirteenth and final state to ratify the Constitution.

While these are the founding documents of our nation and serve as the authority for and protector of the freedoms we enjoy, it is fascinating that so few Americans have read them and even fewer seem to understand them. This has resulted in a citizenry that cannot appreciate the manner in which laws are written or the application of the nation's guiding principles in determining a statute's constitutional or unconstitutional status.

This book seeks to simplify the meaning of these documents by reflecting on the historical background behind their development. It offers an opportunity for people to dip their toe into the story of our nation's origin, The accompanying commentary provides an engaging look into the foundational principles and scholarship employed in the writing of some of the finest words ever penned.