Legal History - Creating a More Perfect Slaveholders' Union: Slavery, the Constitution, and Secession in Antebellum America (Constitutional Thinking)

Creating a More Perfect Slaveholders' Union: Slavery, the Constitution, and Secession in Antebellum America (Constitutional Thinking)

Name: Creating a More Perfect Slaveholders' Union: Slavery, the Constitution, and Secession in Antebellum America (Constitutional Thinking)
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Book Synopsis: In Texas v. White (1869), the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the unilateral secession of a state from the Union was unconstitutional because the Constitution created “an indestructible Union, composed of indestructible States.” The Court ruled “there was no place for reconsideration, or revocation, except through revolution, or through consent of the States.” In his iconoclastic work, Peter Radan demonstrates why the Court’s ruling was wrong and why, on the basis of American constitutional law in 1860–1861, the unilateral secessions of the Confederate states were lawful on the grounds that the United States was forged as a “slaveholders’ Union.”Creating a More Perfect Slaveholders’ Union addresses two constitutional issues: first, whether the states in 1860 had a right to secede from the Union and second, what significance slavery had in defining the constitutional Union. These two matters came together when the states seceded on the grounds that the system of government they had agreed to—namely, a system of human enslavement—had been violated by the incoming Republican administration. The legitimacy of this secession was anchored, as Radan demonstrates, in the compact theory of the Constitution, which held that because the Constitution was a compact between the member states of the Union, breaches of its fundamental provisions gave affected states the right to unilaterally secede from the Union. In so doing the Confederate states sought to preserve and protect their peculiar institution by forming a more perfect slaveholders’ Union.Creating a More Perfect Slaveholders’ Union stands as the first and only systematic analysis of the legal arguments mounted for and against secession in 1860–1861 and reshapes how we understand the Civil War and, consequently, the history of the United States more generally.

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Looking for an eye-opening read that challenges the traditionally accepted narrative of the Civil War? Look no further than "Creating a More Perfect Slaveholders' Union: Slavery, the Constitution, and Secession in Antebellum America" by Peter Radan. This groundbreaking work examines the controversial topic of secession, shedding new light on its legality and the role that slavery played in shaping the Union. Don't miss out on this thought-provoking analysis that will undoubtedly reshape your understanding of American history.

In "Creating a More Perfect Slaveholders' Union," Radan dissects the landmark Supreme Court case Texas v. White and convincingly argues against its ruling. He presents a compelling case for the legality of the Confederate states' unilateral secessions, rooted in their belief that the United States was established as a "slaveholders' Union." By examining the constitutional issues surrounding secession and the profound significance of slavery in defining the Union, Radan presents a thought-provoking and controversial perspective.

Radan's work is a meticulous analysis of the legal arguments for and against secession in 1860-1861. By delving into the complex and nuanced nuances of the compact theory of the Constitution, Radan constructs a convincing argument that breaches of the Constitution's fundamental provisions gave the seceding states the right to withdraw from the Union. This captivating analysis offers a unique lens through which to view the Civil War and challenges long-held assumptions about its causes and consequences.

Don't miss your chance to delve into the depths of American history with "Creating a More Perfect Slaveholders' Union." This thought-provoking book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Civil War and its impact on the United States. Order your copy today and embark on a journey of enlightenment and historical discovery.

Order now and be prepared to have your perspective on American history forever changed.

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