We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution

Lepore (The American Beast) presents a comprehensive, inclusive history of the creation of the United States Constitution and its subsequent journey as an amendable document. Lepore mostly discusses the document’s revision, updating, and improvement, which keeps the narrative focused. The research presents a refreshing context for the political battles that propel amendments forward; the rights of women, enslaved people, and Confederates are handled with equal care. The section showcasing the history of Hawai‘i feels revelatory, as it’s not usually included in conversations about the Constitution. The definitions for understanding the difference between a federalist versus an antifederalist are clear, and the definitive tone carries through the coverage of suffrage, changes for child labor, and the influence of Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade. The charts listing when amendments were proposed and by whom is a concise way to understand each era being examined. The history of the Equal Rights Amendment and FDR’s attempts to restructure the Supreme Court will be of keen interest to modern readers.