Pulitzer Prize History Winner

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

by Jill Lepore

Summary

Jill Lepore narrates the long history of the United States Constitution, from its drafting in 1787 through the many struggles to amend, interpret, and live up to it. She follows ordinary citizens, reformers, and movements who fought to extend its promises beyond the founders' original vision. The book treats the Constitution as a living document shaped by generations of argument over who counts as part of the people.

Historical Context & Significance

The book won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for History and was written by Jill Lepore, a Harvard historian and staff writer at The New Yorker.