Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Michael Kammen has gathered together the fundamental documents needed to understand the genesis and evolution of the United States Constitution--from the exploratory notions concerning the nature of constitutions in 1776, the Articles of Confederation in 1777, and various constitutional plans proposed at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787, to the advocacy position of "Publius" in the 21 most important Federalist papers and contrasting views offered by leading Anti-Federalist dissenters.

Kammen also includes private correspondence that passed between prominent founders during the crucial years 1787 to 1789 (58 revealing letters), along with the Judiciary Act of 1789 and the Bill of Rights, which completed the basic structure of government and provided essential security for its citizens.

Taken together, these are the great state papers that illuminate America's brilliant and unique contribution to the history of political thought and democratic values.