The Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States (Signet Classics) [Mass Market Paperback]

Floyd G. Cullop (Editor, Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Signet Classics | Publication Date: June 30, 2009

The ideal introduction for students, aspiring citizens, and general readers to documents as relevant today as they were when first drafted more than 200 years ago.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Signet Classics; Original edition (June 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451531302
• ISBN-13: 978-0451531308
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #481,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Government > Constitutions
  • #87 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Politics > History & Theory

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, July 12, 2009

By 

JW (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States (Signet Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an excellent read. Very well written and easy to read!! You don't have to have a law degree to undestand :)

5.0 out of 5 stars Summer Reading assignment, July 26, 2011

By 

stask - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States (Signet Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

Love that at Amazon, it's one stop shopping. I can find all the summer reading book assignments for my kids in one place and all came within 2 weeks so they have the summer to get to work. good price and delivery

3.0 out of 5 stars Very basic explanation, plus full text of both documents, November 29, 2010

By 

T. D. Welsh (Basingstoke, Hampshire UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States (Signet Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book serves a useful purpose: providing an accessible introduction to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (including the Bill of Rights). It also includes the full original texts of both, although you have to look them up - the author's approach is to start with his own explanation, and only then expose the reader (duly prepared, as it were) to the rigors of the actual document. The Constitution, for example, is introduced with the following words: "The Constitution of the United States follows. If you have read this [sic] simplified, explained text carefully and studied the vocabulary, you should be able to understand the Constitution as it was originally written. Try, and see".

The explanatory text assumes very little knowledge - either of history, politics, or for that matter the English language. For instance, the first section on "Words You Need to Know" offers explanations of "subject", "British Constitution", "antiroyalist", "ally", "British Parliament", "charter", "legislature", "dissolve", "sovereignty", and so on. (Incidentally, the explanation of "sovereignty" given is simply "independence", which may strike you as inadequate; the Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines the word as meaning "supreme power or authority... the authority of a state to govern itself or another state"). However, the author's approach does fit his goal of making sure that even readers with little education end up with a thorough grasp of the material. I felt rather uncomfortable once or twice when the author seemed to be telling the reader what the words of the Constitution "really mean" (in his own language). But surely that is begging the question? The Constitution says what it says, and if there is any doubt about its meaning it is up to the courts to decide. Then again, there is probably no harm as long as the reader does not take the author's interpretation as Gospel truth.

So if you already know a fair amount about history and politics, this book is likely to be too elementary for you (although it does provide the original text of the key documents). On the other hand, if you are unsure about these subjects or have a limited English vocabulary, you may find it is just what you need.