burden of responsibility for errors and shortcomings. Only one who has gone over the same ground can appreciate how many there are; but I trust they will be viewed with charity by those who know how difficult a thing it is to describe a complex political organism which is swiftly changing under our very eyes. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, CHARLES A. BEARD. CHAPTER TABLE OF CONTENTS HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS PAGE I 60 78 99 I. COLONIAL ORIGINS OF AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS II. INDEPENDENCE, UNION, AND SELF-GOVERNMENT III. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION IV. THE EVOLUTION OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. V. THE EVOLUTION OF STATE CONSTITUTIONS |