The Antebellum Origins of the Modern Constitution: Slavery and the Spirit of the American Founding

The book explores how conflicts over slavery and abolition in the early American Republic shaped constitutional interpretation, emphasizing the enduring influence of the founding spirit on the present. It draws on historical sources to demonstrate how opponents of abolition promoted a constraining constitutional imaginary to navigate the existence of slavery in the District and the issue of enslaved personhood.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 283 pages
Publication date: 14 April 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The book explores the profound impact of conflicts over slavery and abolition in the early American Republic on constitutional interpretation. It argues that the belief that the historical spirit of founding holds authority over the present moment has endured and remains influential today. Simon J. Gilhooley delves into the origins of this constitutional interpretation, tracing how debates surrounding slavery in the District of Columbia shaped its development. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical newspapers, pamphlets, and congressional debates, Gilhooley reconstructs the intricate web of ideas and ideologies that shaped the understanding of slavery and its place in the Constitution.

Examining free black activism in the North, the rise of abolitionism in the 1830s, and the evolution of pro-slavery thought, the book reveals how opponents of abolition in the Antebellum era navigated the existence of slavery in the District and the fundamental constitutional issue of the enslaved person's personhood. It demonstrates how they crafted an enduring but constraining constitutional imaginary, shaping the trajectory of American politics and society for generations to come.

This book offers a valuable insight into the complex and evolving relationship between slavery, abolition, and constitutional interpretation in early American history. It sheds light on the ways in which historical events and intellectual debates shaped the nation's constitutional framework and continues to influence our understanding of fundamental rights and freedoms. By exploring the origins of this constitutional interpretation, Gilhooley provides a rich and nuanced account of the complex and multifaceted debates that shaped the early American Republic.

Weight: 436g
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108791458
Edition number: New ed