Liberty in Sir William Blackstone’s “Commentaries on the Laws of England”
ABSTRACT
Blackstone’s Commentaries, particularly those sections dealing with the British constitutional structure and the nature of law within the English common-law system, illuminates the contemporary background of American constitutional thought at the founding and throws light on important questions regarding American constitutionalism. Blackstone’s work highlights the issue of the extent to which British practice influenced the American constitutional order.
READING LIST
Conference Readings
Blackstone, William. Commentaries on the Laws of England: A Facsimile of the First Edition of 1765-1769, Volume 1: Of the Rights of Persons (1765). Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979.
Blackstone, William. Commentaries on the Laws of England: Volume 4: Of Public Wrongs. Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1979.