2 Statesman Book Reviews

The U.S.Constitution for Everyone (Perigee Book)

by Jerome B. Agel, Mort Gerberg

History comes alive-in this illustrated guide to the Constitution and all 27 Amendments.

¥ Which state refused to send a delegation to the Constitutional Convention?
¥ Why was the Convention held in secret, with sentries at the door?
¥ What are the 27 Amendments?

The U.S. Constitution for Everyone relates how the "traitorous" Founding Fathers wrote the nation's supreme laws and how the thirteen Disunited States became a more perfect Union. A must for students of American history and for everyone who'd like to know more about the supreme laws of our nation.


My Opinion:

This book made the Constitution more interesting, a little more easily understood and gave important history surrounding the constitution and the amendments.


Common Sense

by Thomas Paine

"These are the times that try men's souls," begins Thomas Paine's first Crisis paper, the impassioned pamphlet that helped ignite the American Revolution. Published in Philadelphia in January of 1776, Common Sense sold 150,000 copies almost immediately. A powerful piece of propaganda, it attacked the idea of a hereditary monarchy, dismissed the chance for reconciliation with England, and outlined the economic benefits of independence while espousing equality of rights among citizens. Paine fanned a flame that was already burning, but many historians argue that his work unified dissenting voices and persuaded patriots that the American Revolution was not only necessary, but an epochal step in world history.


My Opinion:

After reading 1776 Thomas Paine became a real person to me. I really enjoyed this as it brought me to these times. I saw a very close correlation between England at that time and the US Government now and how we need to develop the passion for the Constitution like our forefathers developed then.