The Sources of Anti-Slavery Constitutionalism in America, 1760-1848 / William M. Wiecek.

This ambitious book examines the constitutional and legal doctrines of the antislavery movement from the eve of the American Revolution to the Wilmot Proviso and the 1848 national elections. Relating political activity to constitutional thought, William M. Wiecek surveys the antislavery societies, t...

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Place / Publishing House:Baltimore, Maryland : : Project Muse,, 2018
©2018
Year of Publication:2018
Language:English
Physical Description:1 online resource (308 pages)
Notes:Includes index.
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Summary:This ambitious book examines the constitutional and legal doctrines of the antislavery movement from the eve of the American Revolution to the Wilmot Proviso and the 1848 national elections. Relating political activity to constitutional thought, William M. Wiecek surveys the antislavery societies, the ideas of their individual members, and the actions of those opposed to slavery and its expansion into the territories. He shows that the idea of constitutionalism has popular origins and was not the exclusive creation of a caste of lawyers. In offering a sophisticated examination of both sides of the argument about slavery, he not only discusses court cases and statutes, but also considers a broad range of "extrajudicial" thought--political speeches and pamphlets, legislative debates and arguments.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:1501726455
Hierarchical level:Monograph
Statement of Responsibility: William M. Wiecek.