In the late-seventeenth century, Quakers originated a unique strain of constitutionalism, based on their theology and ecclesiology, which emphasized constitutional perpetuity and radical change through popular peaceful protest. While Whigs could imagine no other means of drastic constitutional reform except revolution, Quakers denied this as a legitimate option to governmental abuse of authority and advocated instead civil disobedience. This theory of a perpetual yet amendable constitution...

Why is it that so many Americans have not heard of John Dickinson? John Dickinson of Pennsylvania and Delaware was an early leader of the resistance to British rule in the American colonies. In fact, to many, he was the most prominent figure in the struggle for independence, though his Quaker-influenced opposition to violence kept him from signing one of its most famous documents in July 1776. Still, Dickinson, one of the wealthiest men in the colonies, did more to promote...

John Dickinson of Pennsylvania and Delaware was an early leader of the resistance to British rule in the American colonies. In fact, to many, he was the most prominent figure in the struggle for independence, though his Quaker-influenced opposition to violence kept him from signing one of its most famous documents in July 1776. Still, Dickinson, one of the wealthiest men in the colonies, did more to promote the cause behind it than almost anyone else, not only as the lead draftsman in all ...

The early 21st century saw better prison conditions and a lower imprisonment rate however public worry over supposed increasing violent crime as perpetuated by the media in the 1930’s led to a return to harsher sentences and fuller prisons. Originally published in 1933, The Lawbreaker analyses British penal methods of the time and of the past to discover the most effective ways to treat prisoners and reduce crime as well as identifying where more research is needed to obtain a bal...

Young readers can enjoy both English and Spanish in this dual-language edition of The WWCC Heroes: Pablo's Adventure-an action-filled, colorful story of friendship with a wild cast of half-animal, half-human creatures. When the Worldwide Chess Championship comes to town, Pablo Prairie Dog finally meets his hero, Bodacious Buffalo. Disappointment follows when Pablo is cast aside because of his small size. Through his adventures with the WWCC All Star team, Pablo Prairie Dog finally...

Young readers can enjoy both English and Spanish in this dual-language edition of The WWCC Heroes: Chili Goes to Camp-an action-filled, colorful story of friendship with a wild cast of half-animal, half-human creatures. When the Worldwide Chess Champions go to summer camp, Chili and Ellegirl start the summer as teammates and friends. Challenges follow when Chili's fear of all new things keeps her from making new friends at the camp. With help from Ellegirl and the WWCC team, Chili finally ...

Some friends are big and strong... Some are small, but the only thing that really matters in life, is being a good friend to all!When the World Wide Chess Championship comes to town, Pablo Prairie Dog finally meets his hero, Bodacious Buffalo, the half-human, half-buffalo hero of the WWCC - a wild mix of chess and professional wrestling. Disappointment follows when Pablo, who wants nothing more than to train as a WWCC hero, is cast aside because of his small size. ...

During the years 1764 through 1766, John Dickinson became a leading figure in the Pennsylvania Assembly and in the growing American resistance to unjust British taxation. The documents in this volume show that, in both roles, he sought to protect the fundamental rights of ordinary Americans. In the 1764 Assembly, after working to punish those responsible for the slaughter of peaceful Indians, Dickinson challenged Benjamin Franklin and Joseph Galloway in their plan to abolish Pennsylvania’s...

In 1767, John Dickinson began publishing his twelve Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, which earned him international celebrity as the leader of the American resistance to Britain. They educated Americans about their rights and how to defend them without violence. Importantly, they also taught the colonists to unite and understand themselves first and foremost as Americans rather than as Britons. He followed with letters on religious liberty in the Episcopal controver...

The Complete Writings and Selected Correspondence of John Dickinson, vol. 1 inaugurates a multivolume documentary edition that will, for the first time ever, provide the complete collection of everything Dickinson published on public affairs over the course of his life. The documents include essays, articles, broadsides, resolutions, petitions, declarations, constitutions, regulations, legislation, proclamations, songs and odes. Among them are many of the seminal state papers prod...

John Dickinson’s entry into public life in Delaware and Pennsylvania is a highlight of the ninety-eight documents written over four years printed in Volume Two of The Complete Writings and Selected Correspondence of John Dickinson. The volume opens with Dickinson’s legal notes as he established himself as one of the most prominent and learned lawyers in colonial British North America. His cases dealt with, among other issues, interpretation of wills, disputes over land, sailors su...

A central figure in Western history and American political thought, Thomas Paine continues to provoke debate among politicians, activists, and scholars.  People of all ideological stripes are inspired by his trenchant defense of the rights and good sense of ordinary individuals, and his penetrating critiques of arbitrary power.   This volume contains Paine’s explosive Common Sense in its entirety, including the oft-ignored Appendix, as well as selections from his other maj...