A March of Liberty: From 1877 to the present

Book excerpt: "A March of Liberty: A Constitutional History of the United States is a clearly written, comprehensive overview of American constitutional development. Covering the country's history from the founding of the English colonies up through the latest decisions of the Supreme Court, this two-volume work presents the most complete discussion of American constitutional history currently available. Reflecting the latest in contemporary scholarship, the authors successfully blend cases and court doctrines into the larger fabric of American political, economic, and social history. They discuss in detail the great cases handed down by the Supreme Court, showing how these cases played out in society and how constitutional growth parallels changes in American culture. In addition, this two-volume set examines lesser-known decisions that played important roles in affecting change, and also contains in-depth analyses of the intellects and personalities of the Supreme Court justices who made these influential decisions. This second edition of A March of Liberty addresses recent scholarship on race and gender, covers both constitutional and legal history, and examines federal, state, and private law. The text exemplifies the current trends in American constitutional history through its holistic approach of integrating the decisions of the state and lower federal courts with the decisions of the Supreme Court. Volume II addresses Reconstruction to the present and covers key issues including police power, criminal law, income tax, child labor, desegregation, school prayer, and foreign policy. It also examines control over issuing legal tender and control of and limits on conducting commerce. A March of Liberty features useful supplemental materials including the text of the Constitution, a chronological list of Supreme Court justices, and a detailed list of suggested further readings. Gracefully written and clearly explained, this popular two-volume set is indispensable for courses in American constitutional history and law"--The publisher's description.