OurColony.net

AP Government

Customer Rating:
I am a student in AP Government and was required to read this book as a summer reading project. Overall it was not bad...interesting at times, but i found it repetitive and confusing. I would not recommend it unless you absolutely love history or really want to know what happened on those dreary days in Philadelphia.

Enhances Your Respect Toward Founding Fathers

Customer Rating:
Simply written, this wonderful book is engaging and makes you not only appreciate the greatness of the men involved with the forming of our nation; but, more importanly, helps you appreciate the rich history our country is founded on. Many years ago, I enjoyed being taught by a brillant history professor. He made a comment that I found intriguing. He said the greatest minds our country has ever had lived within 50 years of each other. "Decision in Philadelphia" does a magnificent job illustrating this point.

A delight to read

Customer Rating:
The title of this review says it all. There are more scholarly reviews of the Constitutional Convention but none that reads as well. Take it to the beach. It's that readable. And it teaches. The Colliers have real insight into what happened during that hot but memorable summer in 1787.

A very readable and fascinating analysis of the 1787 Convention

Customer Rating:
I enjoyed reading this book. In it, the authors explain what happened at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Most enthusiasts of the period know about Madison and Hamilton and that the Convention was convened to write a new Constitution, but what many don't know is that there were many characters besides Madison and Hamilton that attended and held sway. And in bringing to light these other characters the book shines.

There are individual chapters on Charles Pinckney, Roger Sherman, William Paterson, Luther Martin, James Wilson, Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and more. The chapters are written in a lively manner without getting bogged down in details. Collier and Collier give you the "flavor" and most important aspects of each of these characters. There was a lot of "juice". The reading never got dull.

There were also many issues that I was totally unaware of, such as the alliance of several southern states with the "big" states, as well as Connecticut's frequent alliance with the southern states. I was surprised that the issue of slavery, 80 years before the Civil War, played such a central role at the Convention. I enjoyed learning how each of the colonies fared during the period of the Articles of Confederation and how this affected their bargaining positions. It was fascinating to learn about the process itself, the vote counting among the representatives, and the pure politics that went on during the Convention.

All in all, the book was a very quick, informative, and entertaining read. It also fills a gap, as there is not much in the "popular" press written about the Convention. The book is appropriate for those who have already done some reading on early American history as well as those who take a passing interest.

Great Introduction to Constitutional Convention

Customer Rating:
This book is a great read for people who wish to learn about the constitutional convention and the trials that that Founders faced in creating our system of government. The book also uncovers the personality traits of many of the Founders who played significant roles at the convention and discusses the disputes that served as stumbling blocks. As a person who is facinated by the U.S. Constitution, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is in the early stages of learning about it. The book is very accessable and not written in a scholarly fashion which makes it very enjoyable as well as educational.