| Preface | vii |
| I. | Introduction | 3 |
| II. | The Old Empire | 7 |
| III. | The Problem of Imperial Organization. the Albany Plan | 17 |
| IV. | The Writs of Assistance and the Revenue Act | 25 |
| V. | The Stamp Act | 35 |
| VI. | After the Stamp Act | 52 |
| VII. | An Obdurate Parliament and Obstinate Colonies, 1769-1773. the Great Controversy Between Governor and Legislature in Massachusetts | 64 |
| VIII. | The Intolerable Acts. the Arguments in Denial of Parliamentary Authority | 75 |
| IX. | The Congresses of 1774-1775 | 83 |
| X. | The Philosophy of the Revolution and the Declaration of Independence | 91 |
| XI. | Early State Constitutions | 106 |
| XII. | The Articles of Confederation | 118 |
| XIII. | The Tribulations of the Confederate Period. the Chief Problem of the Time | 137 |
| XIV. | The Federal Convention | 148 |
| I. | Determination to Found a National Government | 148 |
| II. | Controversy and Compromise; the Essentials of Federalism; Coercion of Law and not of Arms | 163 |
| III. | Sectional Diversity; Slavery; the Presidency; the Philosophy of the Fathers | 185 |
| XV. | The Adoption of the Constitution | 198 |
| XVI. | Organization of the Government. Hamilton's Financial Policy. Implied Powers. The Judicial System | 224 |
| XVII. | The Establishment of the Executive Departments and the Development of the Cabinet | 238 |
| XVIII. | The Establishment of the Authority of the Executive in Foreign Affairs | 248 |
| XIX. | The Alien and Sedition Acts | 264 |
| XX. | The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions | 272 |
| XXI. | The Election of 1800. The Repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801 | 282 |
| XXII. | The Annexation of Louisiana | 294 |
| XXIII. | John Marshall, Chief Justice. The Early History of the Supreme Court. Marbury v. Madison | 299 |
| XXIV. | The Impeachment of Pickering and Chase. The Burr Conspiracy | 320 |
| XXV. | Federal and State Differences. Federalist Opposition. The Embargo. The Olmstead Case | 331 |
| XXVI. | The War of 1812 | 348 |
| XXVII. | Conditions After 1815. The Rise of the New West; Internal Improvements | 356 |
| XXVIII. | The Development of State Constitutions | 366 |
| XXIX. | The Missouri Compromise | 372 |
| XXX. | Constitutional Law Under Chief Justice Marshall | 383 |
