Founding Character: Documents That Define the United States of America and its People

In this expanded new edition, Kirk Ward Robinson presents the Founding documents of the United States of America, with additional interpretation to reinforce his premise that the character of the nation and its people, even in modern times, derives not only from the ideals expressed in the Founding documents, but also from the historical pressures that led to their creation. These documents—The Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, Thomas Jefferson’s “original Rough draught” of the Declaration of Independence, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, Treaty of Paris, Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights, President George Washington’s Farewell Address—built upon one another to create a sense of expectation that is unique to America; a sense of expectation that permeates American society, influencing profound greatness as well as bitter debate. Founding Character: Documents That Define the United States of America and its People, the first book in Robinson’s Founding Trilogy, is a companion to Founding Courage: Courage and Character in the United States of America, and Founding Conservation (forthcoming). Founding Character is an accessible reference to the Founding of America, suitable for the classroom or the general reader. Also included are the Amendments to the Constitution, a guide to the states and their constitutions, and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense.