A survey of the evolution of property rights in the U.S.--from Constitutional protections and due process to "private" property rights and government "takings" doctrines. Today, "Get off my property!" is a common command. Yesterday one could say, "Take your hands off my property!" when someone grabbed a slave. But what about intellectual property, and property rights on the internet and in biotechnology? This book will show readers how America's unique and complicated property laws came about. Government regulation of private property has ranged from periods of almost no government interference to intrusive rules and legislation. This book explores the Constitutional underpinnings of property rights, addressing such important subjects as post-colonial changes to the laws of inheritance, Native American land rights, slaves as property, land distribution during the westward expansion, and the restriction of land ownership to U.S. citizens. Of particular interest to today's readers are government regulation of private property for environmental purposes, the right of individuals to exclude others from their property, challenges to zoning regulations, and intellectual property rights in cyberspace. Also discussed are, restrictions on demonstrations taking place on public property, and the development of the "commercial space" doctrines in First Amendment cases.