Living History
Freedman, Russell. In Defense of Liberty: the Story of America's Bill of Rights. New York: Holiday House, 2003.
Freedman opens his discussion of the Bill of Rights by listing a few questions that spark heated debates in 21st century America. Can school children be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance? Can a rap group be prosecuted for using "obscene" lyrics. He then goes back in time to discuss the reasons that the framers of the Constitution believed they needed to add amendments that specifically stated the rights of citizens. In each succeeding chapter, he examines one of the amendments, discussing the various interpretations of that amendment over time, and describing a few of the cases that have been brought before the courts and decided on the basis of that amendment. His clear and compelling discussions remind us that these ten amendments to our Constitution, written more than 200 years ago, remain vital to our democracy today. This book offers the best civics lesson I've ever had.
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