Ratified in 1788 as the supreme law of the land, the Constitution of the United States of America is the single most important document in American history. The essential American documents collected in this volume span four centuries and include, in addition to the Constitution and its amendments, the Declaration of Independence, Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty” speech, George Washington’s farewell address, Henry David Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience,” America’s declaration of war following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and numerous presidential inaugural addresses.

Written by the iconic American statesman, Alexander Hamilton, the original US chief justice, John Jay, and “Father of the Constitution”, James Madison, this compilation of eighty-five articles explains and defends the ideals behind the highest form of law in the United States.

These essays were published anonymously in New York newspapers in 1787 and 1788, and they foresaw many of the headline-grabbing issues surrounding impeachment, corruption, bureaucracy, and regulation that we read about today. Hailed by Thomas Jefferson as the best commentary ever written on the principles of government, The Federalist Papers is now available in an elegantly designed edition with an elastic closure and a new introduction.

Revolutionary classics of political philosophy, these articles are essential reading for students, lawyers, politicians, and anyone with an interest in the formation of societies.  The beautiful cover has a rustic look that adds to the character of the book.