New Legal History Texbook: McManus and Helfman, "Liberty and Union," Concise Edition
Readers who teach U.S. legal history may be interested in this new release from Routledge: Liberty and Union: A Constitutional History of the United States, concise edition, by Edgar J. McManus (Queens College, City University of New York) and Tara Helfman (Syracuse University College of Law). From the Press:
Written in a clear and engaging narrative style, it successfully
unites thorough chronological coverage with a thematic approach,
offering critical analysis of core constitutional history topics, set in
the political, social, and economic context that made them
constitutional issues in the first place. Combining a thoughtful and
balanced narrative with an authoritative stance on key issues, the
authors deliberately explain the past in the light of the past, without
imposing upon it the standards of later generations.
Authored by two experienced professors in the field, this concise
edition presents seminal topics while retaining the narrative flow of
the two full original volumes. An accessible alternative to dense
scholarly works, this textbook avoids unnecessary technical jargon,
defines legal terms and historical personalities where appropriate, and
makes explicit connections between constitutional themes and historical
events. For students in a short undergraduate or postgraduate
constitutional history course, or anyone with a general interest in
constitutional developments, this book will be essential reading.
Useful features include:
- Full glossary of legal terminology
- Recommended reading
- A table of cases
- Extracts from primary documents
- Companion website
Useful documents provided:
- Declaration of Independence
- Articles of Confederation
- Constitution of the United States of America
- Chronological list of Supreme Court justices
More information is available here.
