Jonah Patel
Max Farrand was an early 20th-century Liberal and American historian with a particular interest in the Founding Fathers and the organisation of the United States after the American Revolutionary War. In his book, 'The Framing of the Constitution of the United States', Farrand presents a detailed analysis of the conditions, convictions, and men who framed the Constitution of the United States. Published in 1911, the book is considered a classic in American constitutional history and provides valuable insights into the intentions of the Founding Fathers and the issues of 1787, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the American Revolution or constitutional law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 1911 |
| Author Profession | Professor and writer of American history |
| Author Expertise | Founding Fathers, organisation of the US after the American Revolutionary War |
| Writing Style | Easy |
| Content | Documentary records of the Constitutional Convention, notes and letters by participants, various constitutional plans proposed |
| Purpose | To clarify the intentions of the Founding Fathers, to explain the creation of the Constitution, to shed light on issues of 1787 that are still important today |
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What You'll Learn
Max Farrand's political leanings
Max Farrand was a scholar of American history and an authority on the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He wrote and taught extensively on the development of the United States and the drafting of its Constitution. Farrand's most notable work, "The Framing of the Constitution of the United States," published in 1913, is considered a classic in American constitutional history.
Farrand's book provides a vivid analysis of the conditions, convictions, and individuals who framed the Constitution. It clarifies the intentions of the Founding Fathers and sheds light on the issues of 1787, emphasizing that the framers were human with their own biases, interests, and misconceptions. Farrand's work also highlights that the framers were addressing contemporary problems and trying to lay out the mechanisms and functions of a newly created federal government.
Farrand's political leanings are not explicitly stated in his writings, but his emphasis on the humanity of the framers and their intentions suggests a nuanced understanding of history. He presents the framers as people of their time, influenced by their social and historical context, rather than infallible demigods. This suggests a more complex view of history and an acknowledgment of the role of individuals in shaping events.
Farrand's other works include "Records of the Federal Convention of 1787," published in three volumes in 1911, which gathered documentary records of the Constitutional Convention and made it easier to study its workings. He also wrote about Benjamin Franklin, translated Jellinek's "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizens" from German to English, and studied the legislation of Congress for the Government of the Organized Territories of the United States. These diverse interests indicate a broad engagement with political and historical ideas.
Farrand's career as an educator and historian suggests a commitment to knowledge, education, and a nuanced understanding of history. His work as a professor and writer likely influenced his political leanings, shaping a perspective that valued critical analysis, historical context, and the examination of power structures. While Farrand's specific political affiliations are not publicly known, his scholarly contributions continue to shape our understanding of the Constitution and American history.
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The Federal Convention
Max Farrand was an early 20th-century Liberal and an American historian with a particular interest in the Founding Fathers and the organisation of the United States after the American Revolutionary War. He taught at several universities and was the first director of the Huntington Library.
Farrand's book, 'The Framing of the Constitution of the United States', is a classic in American constitutional history. Published in 1911, it presents a vivid analysis of the conditions, convictions, and men who framed the Constitution of the United States. The book clarifies the intentions of the Founding Fathers and sheds light on the many issues of 1787 that are still of vital importance today. It is based on a comprehensive archive that Farrand created, including documentary records of the Constitutional Convention, also known as Farrand's Records. These records include notes and letters by many participants, as well as the various constitutional plans proposed during the convention.
Farrand's work reminds us that the framers were human beings with their own interests, misconceptions, and ignorance of the late 18th century. They were far wealthier and more privileged than their fellow citizens, and they convened to fix fundamental problems with the Articles of Confederation, which had governed the nation since the defeat of the British. They decided to create something new, but they also took large parts of the Articles and inserted them into the new Constitution with little to no editing.
Farrand's writing style is described as easy to read, and his work provides great information on why the United States needed the electoral college. His book is considered a "must-read" for anyone studying the history of the American Revolution era or constitutional law.
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The Founding Fathers
Max Farrand's book, 'The Framing of the Constitution of the United States', published in 1911, is a classic in American constitutional history. Farrand, an early 20th-century Liberal, was an American historian and professor of history at Yale University. His particular area of interest was the Founding Fathers and the organisation of the United States after the American Revolutionary War.
Farrand's book presents an analysis of the conditions, convictions and men who framed the Constitution of the United States. It clarifies the intentions of the Founding Fathers, and provides a reminder that the framers were human beings, with interests, misconceptions and ignorance of the late 18th century. They were far wealthier and more privileged than their fellow citizens. The framers were not trying to create an infallible document, but rather to fix contemporary problems and prevent future ones.
'The Framing of the Constitution of the United States' is based on a comprehensive archive of Farrand's Records, which include the documentary records of the Constitutional Convention, such as notes and letters by participants, as well as the various constitutional plans proposed. The Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia from 25 May 1787 to 17 September 1787.
Farrand's book is considered a "must-read" for anyone studying the history of the American Revolution era or constitutional law. It provides an easy-to-read, interesting short history of the people and ideas that came together to improve the Articles of Confederation before the United States became a world power.
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The Articles of Confederation
Max Farrand's book, 'The Framing of the Constitution of the United States', is considered a classic in American constitutional history. Published in 1911, it offers a detailed account of the Federal Convention and the conditions, convictions, and men who framed the Constitution. Farrand, an early 20th-century Liberal and American historian, provides valuable insights into the intentions of the Founding Fathers and the issues of 1787, which remain significant today.
Farrand's work also includes 'The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787', a compilation of documentary records from the Constitutional Convention. These records, along with notes and letters from participants and proposed constitutional plans, provide a comprehensive resource for studying the convention and the formation of the Constitution.
Now, turning to the Articles of Confederation, which governed the nation after the defeat of the British, Farrand's book provides context for the creation of the Constitution. The Articles of Confederation were written before the United States became a world power, and the framers of the Constitution aimed to improve upon them. The framers, who were wealthy and privileged, convened not to create an infallible treatise but to address fundamental issues with the Articles of Confederation.
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation became apparent over time. The national government struggled to maintain stability, facing challenges such as economic crises and state disputes. The lack of a strong executive branch and the inability to regulate interstate commerce contributed to growing discontent. As a result, the Constitutional Convention was convened in 1787 to address these issues, leading to the creation of the United States Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation in 1789.
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The Constitution as a series of compromises
Max Farrand's book, "The Framing of the Constitution of the United States", published in 1911, is a classic in American constitutional history. It presents a detailed and vivid analysis of the conditions, the convictions, and the men who framed the Constitution of the United States. Farrand, an early 20th-century Liberal and American historian, provides valuable insights into the intentions of the Founding Fathers and the issues of 1787, offering context that remains relevant today.
Farrand's work is significant because it humanizes the framers of the Constitution, reminding readers that they were people with their own biases, interests, and misconceptions, shaped by the social and political climate of the late 18th century. They were tasked with addressing the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which had governed the nation since its independence from Britain. Rather than creating an infallible document, they sought to resolve contemporary problems and prevent future ones, laying out the mechanisms and functions of the newly established federal government.
The Constitution, as Farrand highlights, was a series of compromises. It was shaped by the diverse ideas and interests of those present at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The convention aimed to improve the Articles of Confederation, which had been written before the United States became a world power. The records of the convention, including notes, letters, and proposed constitutional plans, have been digitized and are available for researchers to study and understand the discussions and compromises that took place during this pivotal moment in American history.
Farrand's writing style is praised for its ease of comprehension, making "The Framing of the Constitution of the United States" accessible to both scholars and those new to the subject. His work provides valuable context to the creation of the Constitution, offering a deeper understanding of the intentions and motivations behind this foundational document in American history. By examining the compromises and discussions that took place during the Constitutional Convention, Farrand sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced by the framers, humanizing the figures often idealized in American political discourse.
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Frequently asked questions
Max Farrand was an American historian and writer. He was also a professor and taught at several universities, including Wesleyan University, Stanford University, Cornell University, and Yale University.
Max Farrand was an early 20th-century Liberal.
The book presents an analysis of the conditions, the convictions, and the men who framed the Constitution of the United States. It clarifies the intentions of the Founding Fathers and sheds light on the issues of 1787, providing context to the creation of the Constitution.
Farrand's writing style is described as easy to understand, providing a clear and concise narrative of the historical events. His work includes helpful indexing, making it a valuable resource for researchers and students of history.
Max Farrand's book, "The Framing of the Constitution of the United States," is considered a classic in American constitutional history. It provides valuable insights into the creation of the Constitution, the intentions of its framers, and the historical context of the time. Farrand's work also includes a collection of records from the Constitutional Convention, making it an essential source for studying the formation of the United States Constitution.
