Lawyers & Judges - Justice of Shattered Dreams: Samuel Freeman Miller and the Supreme Court during the Civil War Era (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)

Justice of Shattered Dreams: Samuel Freeman Miller and the Supreme Court during the Civil War Era (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)

Name: Justice of Shattered Dreams: Samuel Freeman Miller and the Supreme Court during the Civil War Era (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)
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Book Synopsis: Appointed by Abraham Lincoln to the U.S. Supreme Court during the Civil War, Samuel Freeman Miller (1816--1890) served on the nation's highest tribunal for twenty-eight tumultuous years and holds a place in legal history as one of the Court's most influential justices. Michael A. Ross creates a colorful portrait of a passionate man grappling with the difficult legal issues arising from a time of wrenching social and political change. He also explores the impact President Lincoln's Supreme Court appointments made on American constitutional history.

Best known for his opinions in cases dealing with race and the Fourteenth Amendment, particularly the 1873 Slaughter-House Cases, Miller has often been considered a misguided opponent of Reconstruction and racial equality. In this major reinterpretation, Ross argues that historians have failed to study the evolution of Miller's views during the war and explains how Miller, a former slaveholder, became a champion of African Americans' economic and political rights. He was also the staunchest supporter of the Court of Lincoln's controversial war measures, including the decision to suspend such civil liberties as habeas corpus.

Although commonly portrayed as an agrarian folk hero, Miller in fact initially foresaw and embraced a future in which frontier and rivertown settlements would bloom into thriving metropolises. The optimistic vision grew from the free-labor ideology Miller brought to the Iowa Republican Party he helped found, one that celebrated ordinatry citizens' right to rise in station an driches. Disillusioned by the eventual failure of the boomtowns and repelled by the swelling coffers of eastern financiers, corporations, and robber barons, Miller became an insistent judicial voice for western Republicans embittered and marginalized in the Gilded Age. The first biography of Miller since 1939, this welcome volume draws on Miller's previously unavailable papers to shed new light on a man who saw his dreams for America shattered but whose essential political and social values, as well as his personal integrity, remained intact.

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Discover the untold story of Samuel Freeman Miller, one of the most influential justices on the U.S. Supreme Court during the Civil War era. In "Justice of Shattered Dreams," author Michael A. Ross delves into the life and career of this passionate man, highlighting his pivotal role during a defining period in American history.

As an appointee of Abraham Lincoln, Miller grappled with the complexities of the legal issues that arose during a time of great social and political change. By exploring President Lincoln's Supreme Court appointments, Ross uncovers the profound impact Miller had on American constitutional history.

Samuel Freeman Miller is best known for his opinions on race and the Fourteenth Amendment, often viewed as an opponent of Reconstruction and racial equality. However, in this groundbreaking reinterpretation, Ross reveals the evolution of Miller's views during the war. He demonstrates how Miller, a former slaveholder, became a champion of African Americans' economic and political rights, challenging the prevailing narrative.

Moreover, "Justice of Shattered Dreams" sheds light on Miller's unwavering support for Lincoln's controversial war measures, including the suspension of civil liberties such as habeas corpus. By delving into Miller's previously unavailable papers, Ross provides fresh insights into the man behind the landmark decisions.

Moving beyond the courtroom, Ross paints a vivid picture of Miller's vision for America's future. Contrary to popular belief, Miller envisioned a thriving nation with booming metropolises, rooted in the free-labor ideology he championed. Ross depicts Miller's disillusionment with the failure of the frontier settlements and his staunch opposition to the growing power of eastern financiers and corporations.

Be among the first to uncover the remarkable story of Samuel Freeman Miller. With meticulous research and captivating storytelling, "Justice of Shattered Dreams" offers a comprehensive biography of a man whose dreams for America were shattered, but whose unwavering values and personal integrity endured.

Don't miss out on this fascinating journey through the life and career of Samuel Freeman Miller. Click here to order your copy now!

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