Introduction Summary and Analysis

The introduction is a series of background information and history that sets the stage for the book. It is written by the editor, Ralph Ketchem. The introduction is divided into sections, each of which will be summarized separately.

Section I: The Revolutionary Background of American Constitutional Thought

Practical political thought and the theory of institutional design flourishes in the American colonies in the 1770s and 80s. Americans make numerous original contributions to political theory. The previous decades also produce enormous amounts of political discussion, debate and thought. Americans are not alone in this, for the same thinking is developing in Britain decades before.

As the states and the new federal government experiment with self-government, they run into many practical difficulties. Many conclude towards the end of the 1780s that the federal executive is too weak. Madison and Jefferson have much the...