Madison's Militia: The Hidden History of the Second Amendment

In Madison's Militia, Carl Bogus illuminates precisely why James Madison and the First Congress included the right to bear arms in the Bill of Rights--and the reason will surprise readers. This gripping and wide-ranging history overturns the conventional wisdom about the Second Amendment--showing that the right to bear arms was not about protecting liberty but about preserving slavery.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 05 May 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

This captivating history challenges the prevailing understanding of the Second Amendment, revealing that its primary purpose was not to safeguard liberty but rather to preserve slavery. In his book, Madison's Militia, Carl Bogus delves into the historical context behind the inclusion of the right to bear arms in the Bill of Rights. By seamlessly linking together dramatic accounts of slave uprisings and intense debates surrounding the ratification of the Constitution, Bogus unveils the surprising truth that the Second Amendment's symbolic representation is not the musket held by the minuteman on Lexington Green, but rather the musket wielded by a slave patrol member in the South.

The narrative begins with a dramatic confrontation in Virginia between James Madison and his federalist allies, who were advocating for the ratification of the new Constitution, and Patrick Henry and the antifederalists, who were opposing it. Henry accused Madison of supporting a constitution that would empower Congress to disarm the militia, which the South relied upon for slave control. This accusation set the stage for the subsequent chapters of the book.

In the First Congress, Madison faced the challenge of fulfilling a congressional campaign promise to draft a Bill of Rights. Recognizing the opportunity to address Henry's concerns, Madison skillfully integrated three additional collections of stories, each focusing on slave insurrections, Revolutionary War battles, and the English Declaration of Rights. These narratives serve as a framework for understanding the broader context of the Second Amendment and its relationship to slavery.

As the story unfolds, readers are gradually piecing together the puzzle, and even those initially skeptical of Bogus's argument are compelled to reconsider their previous assumptions. The evidence presented paints a clear picture: the Second Amendment was primarily designed to safeguard slaveholders from the very people they owned. This revelation challenges the conventional wisdom and sheds light on the complex and often overlooked historical implications of the amendment.

Madison's Militia is a thought-provoking and meticulously researched work that offers a fresh perspective on the Second Amendment and its historical significance. By delving into the complex interplay of politics, slavery, and constitutional law, Bogus provides a compelling account of how the right to bear arms was intertwined with the institution of slavery. This book is a valuable addition to the literature on American history and constitutional law, and it will undoubtedly inspire further discussions and debates about the enduring legacy of the Second Amendment.

Weight: 594g
Dimension: 166 x 245 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197632222