{"product_id":"signing-their-rights-away-isbn-9781683691273","title":"Signing Their Rights Away","description":"\u003cb\u003eAn entertaining and essential collection of stories about the surprising and strange fates of the thirty-nine statesmen who created the U.S. Constitution.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRemember when our elected officials knew how to compromise? Here are short, irreverent, fun, and fact-filled biographies of the 39 men who set aside their differences and signed their names to the U.S. Constitution—the oldest written constitution of any nation in the world. You’ll meet:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e• The Signer Who Believed in Aliens\u003cbr\u003e• The Signer Who Was Shot in the Stomach\u003cbr\u003e• The Signer Who Went Bankrupt\u003cbr\u003e• The Peg-Legged Signer\u003cbr\u003e• And many more colorful colonists!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eComplete with portraits of every signatory, \u003ci\u003eSigning Their Rights Away \u003c\/i\u003eprovides an entertaining and enlightening narrative for students, history buffs, politicos, and \u003ci\u003eHamilton \u003c\/i\u003efans alike.“[The authors]...maintain a refreshing reverence for the Constitution itself. Rather than ask readers to believe that an ‘assembly of demigods’ (Jefferson's words) wrote the Constitution, Ms. Kiernan and Mr. D’Agnese challenge the notion that the group that crafted this document of enduring genius was uniquely brilliant or visionary. If this raises the question of how exactly the miracle was accomplished, it should at least give readers some hope for our own seemingly uninspired political era.”\u003ci\u003e —The Wall Street Journal\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This is both educational and entertaining.”—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Kiernan and D'Agnese, who also wrote \u003ci\u003eSigning their Lives Away\u003c\/i\u003e, have provided another volume that should appeal to all political and history buffs.”—\u003ci\u003eMcClatchy Newspapers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This little book is entertaining, easy to read, and above all, informative. It’s a brilliant piece of work and a must-have for any history-buff’s library...”—\u003ci\u003ePoliticusUSA\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An extraordinarily fascinating study of America's lesser-known founding fathers alongside the more well-known ones.”—\u003ci\u003eMidwest Book Review \u003c\/i\u003e(Reviewer’s Choice)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“It’s no secret that I love reading history and occasionally a book comes along that provides an unusual insight beyond the standard telling of a given event. \u003ci\u003eSigning Their Rights Away\u003c\/i\u003e....is a truly fascinating story that puts their achievement in perspective.”—\u003ci\u003eBookviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Kiernan and D’Agnese make both this period and the men who pulled off this incredible achievement exciting and entertaining...This is exceptional historical reporting that is informative, enlightening, and accessible. Anyone with even a remote interest in our rich national history should purchase this highly recommended book.”—Larry Cox,\u003ci\u003e King Features Syndicate\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Entertainingly written.”\u003ci\u003e—School Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003cb\u003eDenise Kiernan \u003c\/b\u003eis a journalist, producer, and the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebest-selling author of the narrative nonfiction books, \u003ci\u003eThe Last Castle \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Girls of Atomic City\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cb\u003eJoseph D’Agnese \u003c\/b\u003eis a journalist, author and ghostwriter who has written for both adults and children. With his wife, Denise Kiernan, he has authored several books on U.S. history, including \u003ci\u003eSigning Their Lives Away\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSigning Their Rights Away\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eStuff Every American Should Know\u003c\/i\u003e. They live in North Carolina.\u003cb\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAsk any person to name the single most important day in United States history, and they’re likely to answer July 4, 1776. Every year, Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence by attending parades and watching fireworks. Most believe that the patriots defeated the British, as though in a football game, and then Americans lived happily ever after in blissful democracy.\u003cbr\u003e     Nothing could be further from the truth.\u003cbr\u003e     When the war ended in 1783, the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation. This fairly flimsy compact provided for a one-house Congress, one vote per state, and very little\u003cbr\u003e else. True, this Congress had a president, but he didn’t derive his power from the people, and he was an intentionally weak figurehead. After all, the last thing the founding fathers wanted was another king.\u003cbr\u003e     Within two years, the fledgling United States was on the verge of political collapse. The federal government had no power to tax people, goods, properties, or businesses. That may sound wonderful until you stop to consider all the consequences: The federal government had no revenue and issued no currency. There was no money for raising troops, building ships, or engaging in other activities vital to a nation’s self-defense. The country was vulnerable to attack and domination by a host of foreign powers. At sea, American vessels were pirated by foreign ships; their cargo and passengers were frequently held for ransom. On land, British and Spanish factions were arming Native Americans and encouraging them to raid American settlements on the edges of the frontier.\u003cbr\u003e     States took matters into their own hands. Nine states had their own naval forces and pursued their own foreign policies. They imposed taxes on goods from other states as though they were dealing with foreign countries. There were no courts to decide disagreements between states. Private banks were issuing their own currency, but their notes were often distrusted and viewed as IOUs that might never be repaid. Doing business with other states was challenging if not impossible. Seesawing cycles of inflation and deflation were destroying lives. Foreclosures skyrocketed, and banks began seizing the homes of poor farmers with unpaid mortgages. Many wealthy landowners feared a bloody class revolution—or an all-out civil war.\u003cbr\u003e     Clearly something had to be done or the nation wouldn’t live long enough to celebrate its eleventh birthday. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and a host of other bigwigs proposed a “grand convention” at which delegates would gather to revise, debate, and expand the Articles of Confederation. Seventy-four delegates were chosen by their respective states; only fifty-five answered the call, and many of those with skepticism. Patrick Henry, the famed Virginia rebel, refused to attend, complaining that he “smelt a rat.” Rhode Island sent no representatives at all.\u003cbr\u003e     In May of 1787, the willing participants journeyed to the very same Philadelphia building where the Declaration of Independence had been signed. True, these men had once banded together to fight as brothers against a common enemy, but now they were deeply distrustful of one another. Small states were suspicious of large states. The nation was divided over slavery. Every delegate arrived wanting something—but few were willing to sacrifice anything. In such a contentious environment, reaching compromise would be tough. More than a dozen delegates quit and went home before the convention’s end.\u003cbr\u003e     The thirty-nine who remained and signed the U.S. Constitution are the focus of this book. \u003ci\u003eSigning Their Rights Away\u003c\/i\u003e introduces you to the remarkable historical figures who jettisoned the limp and lifeless Articles of Confederation for a robust and rigorous document that provided the framework for an enduring system of government (at more than 230 years old, the U.S. Constitution is the oldest functioning constitution in the world).\u003cbr\u003e     In the end, these men prioritized the welfare of their country over politics or personal advancement. They fought with great conviction—but they eventually came to understand that no single delegate could walk away with all the marbles. They agreed to compromise for the greater good. Yet, today, despite their heroic labors, most of them have lapsed into obscurity.\u003cbr\u003e     They deserve better—if only because their stories are so interesting. At least twenty-two\u003cbr\u003e of the signers served in the military—as soldiers, chaplains, administrative officers—during the Revolutionary War. Five were captured and imprisoned by the British. Many lost homes, property, and loved ones to the war. Two died in duels; one attempted suicide.\u003cbr\u003e     Most were educated, cosmopolitan gentlemen accustomed to a life of wealth and privilege. Eighteen of the signers were trained in law; the remainder were merchants, plantation owners, and financiers. They represented the views, expectations, and entitlements of the nation’s elite. Such men had no problem ignoring the rights of women and slaves when designing their compact for government. Nor were they champions of free white men with meager property. (One signer sought to restrict government service to men with a net worth exceeding $100,000!) Having witnessed intimidation and mob violence at the hands of enemies and patriots alike, many of the signers didn’t trust the American public. The idea of granting power to\u003ci\u003e all\u003c\/i\u003e individuals was a fairly radical idea. During debates, many signers repeatedly derided the notion that Josiah Q. Public could serve wisely in the House and Senate, or, heaven help us, the presidency.\u003cbr\u003e     But in the end, enough members knew that this attitude did not reflect the principles of the revolution they had just fought. They were gutsy enough to give the “little guy” a shot at power. Anyone could be president, anyone could be senator—even you.\u003cbr\u003e     So the next time September 17 rolls around, eat a hot dog, watch some fireworks, and celebrate Constitution Day—that fateful date in 1787 when thirty-nine sweaty men dressed in stockings signed their names to the United States Constitution. Remember how they argued, hoped, feared, persevered, and, most important, compromised to create a lasting document that still governs today. July 4 may be remembered as the day the United States was born, but September 17 marks the country’s passage into adulthood, laying the groundwork for two centuries of remarkable expansion and spectacular achievements.","brand":"Quirk Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300641886437,"sku":"NP9781683691273","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781683691273.jpg?v=1767736613","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/signing-their-rights-away-isbn-9781683691273","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}