ECU Libraries Catalog

The Constitution's penman : Gouverneur Morris and the creation of America's basic charter / Dennis C. Rasmussen.

Author/creator Rasmussen, Dennis C. (Dennis Carl), 1978- author.
Format Book and Print
Publication Info Lawrence, Kansas : University Press of Kansas, [2023]
Descriptionvi, 253 pages ; 24 cm.
Subject(s)
Series American political thought
American political thought. ^A252954
Contents Machine generated contents note: 1. The Penman's Story: A Brief Biography -- 2. A Most Splendid Part: Morris at the Convention -- 3. A Representative of America: Federalism -- 4. Checking America's Aristocracy: The Senate -- 5. Property and the People's Branch: The House of Representatives -- 6. A Reluctant Architect of the Electoral College: Presidential Selection -- 7. An Office Fit for Washington: The Presidency -- 8. That Fortress of the Constitution: The Judiciary -- 9. The Curse of Heaven: Slavery -- 10. A Declaration of Motives: The Preamble.
Abstract "Strikingly few Americans know who wrote their nation's basic political charter. Even fewer know that he was a peg-legged ladies' man with a wicked sense of humor, a staunch opponent of slavery, and an unabashed elitist. Gouverneur Morris has been called "the most colorful man in North America" at the time of the founding, and he was a dominant figure at the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. In fact, he spoke more often, proposed more motions, and had more motions adopted than any other delegate. He also put the Constitution into its final form, choosing the arrangement and much of the wording of its provisions, not to mention composing the famous preamble ("We the people of the United States . . .") nearly from scratch. The Constitution's Penman is the first book to explore the constitutional vision of this fascinating and neglected figure"-- Provided by publisher.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references and index.
Issued in other formOnline version: Rasmussen, Dennis C. Constitution's penman Lawrence, Kansas : University Press of Kansas, [2023] 9780700634156
Genre/formBiographies.
LCCN 2022030116
ISBN9780700634149 hardcover
ISBN0700634142 hardcover
ISBNelectronic book
Standard identifier# 40031658078

Available Items

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Joyner General Stacks E302.6 .M7 R37 2023 ✔ Available Place Hold