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A Look at the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments
Conway traces the evolution of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments that abolished slavery and gave African-American males citizenship in 1865. From their roots in the history of slavery through the controversial 1857 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott case through the bloody battles of the American Civil War, Conway carries the reader on a step-by-step journey and provides context that surrounds these vital, important and fundamental amendments. Conway's comprehensive book goes beyond the amendments' ratification and gives the reader a history of how these amendments have been interpreted over time by society and the legal community and how they've been used as a foundation for extending the rights of African Americans and other minorities.
* Reviews *
Clearly focused on guiding student report-writers to reliable Internet resources, this lively title in the Constitution of the United States series combines a quick illustrated print overview of the amendments histories with detailed annotations about recommended Web sites for further research. The spacious page design packs in a lot, with color prints and photos as well as an address for the approved Web sites for each topic, from comprehensive overviews of The Supreme Court: The First Hundred Years to the Plessy v. Ferguson decision on separate but equal. For readers who want to stay with print, there is plenty here, including extensive back matter with a glossary, time line, chapter notes, bibliography, and the full text of the U.S. Constitution. But many tech-savvy teens will also welcome the links to up-to-date sites to research primary and secondary sources., Booklist posted January 13, 2009
