Roots of the Republi: The Grolier Library of the Founders of America (Roots of the Republic) SIX VOLUMES!!

C. Edward Quinn

ISBN 10: 0717276082 ISBN 13: 9780717276080

Publisher: The Bronx County Historical Society, 1996

Synopsis

Book by C. Edward Quinn

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Grade 7 Up. This set covers the basic documents and people that formed the foundation of the U.S. government. Each volume features biographies and black-and-white portraits or photographs of important figures, as well as background material. In Signers of the Declaration of Independence, profiles are presented in geographical sequence, from north to south, in the order in which the delegates signed. The text of the Declaration is included, as well as a summary of some of the document's precursors. In Signers of the Constitution, The First Senate, and The First House, biographical sketches of delegates and congressmen are arranged according to the state they represented. These volumes also contain an explanation of the powers granted to Congress, a description of the first election, essays about the issues tackled by the first Senate, the accomplishments of the first Congress, and the ratification of the Bill of Rights. Chief Justices presents biographies of the 16 men who have served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, examining their lives and relating them to their era and the history of the Court they headed. While many Supreme Court cases are mentioned, they are not discussed in detail. Essays on various aspects of the Court are also included. The Presidents is organized chronologically, starting with George Washington and concluding with Bill Clinton. The focus is on the person, not the term of office. Supplementary essays include discussions of the electoral college and presidential elections. Each volume ends with a comprehensive index to the entire set and a useful bibliography. Written by historians and scholars, this compact resource offers authoritative ready-reference material presented in a highly accessible style.?Dana McDougald, Cedar Shoals High School, Athens, GA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This six-volume set of biographies, billed for grades 7^-12, was originally published by the Bronx County Historical Society. The volumes range from 122 to 170 pages. Each contains an index to the set. Volume 1, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, provides two-page entries for each of the signers: a half-page portrait, state represented, date of birth and death, thumbnail biographical sketch, and facsimile of signature. The entries are arranged by state, north to south. Appendixes includes a list of the signers and their burial places and one of members of the Congress of 1776 who didn't sign the Declaration. The most current entry in the bibliography is 1976.

Volume 2, Signers of the Constitution, includes a list of nonsigning delegates, committee membership, an alphabetical list of signers, and a chart with ratification dates by the states. The biographies are arranged as in volume 1. The black-and-white illustrations lack appeal. Biographies for people also included in volume 1 are different here, but how many places does a reader want to check for information on Ben Franklin? The latest copyright date in the bibliography is 1966.

Volume 3, First Senate, covers the creation and election of the first Senate; powers granted to Congress; meeting dates and locations; issues; a reference chart with information on the senators; senators in order of state constitutional ratification; and a chronology. There is a locator map for each of the 13 states. The biographies are arranged alphabetically by state and range from two to four pages. Portraits are not available for all the biographees. The latest title in the bibliography is 1988.

Volume 4, First House of Representatives, highlights the Bill of Rights and other accomplishments of the first Congress. Arranged by state, the entries run from one-half page to two pages, and some lack a portrait. Volumes 5 and 6 break with the eighteenth-century focus and cover all the chief justices and presidents through the present. Chief Justices discusses the creation of the Supreme Court, the power of judicial review, the size of the Court, and its home. Biographies are four or five pages long. Presidents looks at the origin and development of the presidency; presidents before George Washington; the electoral college and presidential elections; length of the presidential term; and presidential elections since 1789. Clinton's two-page entry ends: "Failure to adequately address the questions of welfare, and floundering in the Somalian and Bosnian civil wars led to a disenchantment with his leadership." Since Clinton currently leads Dole in the polls, this seems a bit premature.

Standard encyclopedias and biographical reference sources like the Dictionary of American Biography provide more and better information for students. The attractive outside packaging of this set belies the inconsistency of its design. The illustrations in volume 2 appear amateurish and don't match the portraits used in the other volumes. The bibliographies, while citing classic works, fail to provide follow-up reading specifically for young adults. Library funds would be better spent on young adult^-oriented materials, such as Oxford University Press' volumes on the Supreme Court, Congress, and the presidency.

Edition details

• Publisher: The Bronx County Historical Society
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0717276082
• ISBN 13: 9780717276080
• Binding: Library Binding
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 133