The British Empire and the American Constitution

Abstract

The Richard B. Russell lectures, commemorating doings of 1787, continue in their distinguished course with this volume, a considerable expansion of three lectures delivered at University of Georgia in 1983. Considerable indeed: book has a grand scope, pursuing its constitutional theme through nine chapters divided into three sections: A Problem Experienced, 1607-1763 A Problem Defined, 1764-1776; and A Problem Resolved, 1776-1788. Thus Greene carries forward colonial quest for power to its national fruition in form of Constitution of 1787. He carries it back in time, too, briefly to ancient, medieval, and sixteenth-century precedents but beginning in earnest with settlement of Virginia in 1607. Greene's preface does much of reviewer's work, clearly establishing historiographical context. This is provided principally by Andrew C. McLaughlin and Charles H. Mcllwain, who a half-century ago insisted on the continuity of constitutional issues from colonial period through Revolution (pp. x-xi) and on importance of usage and custom in shaping American constitutional mentality.1 Greene also identifies his points of departure from that older tradition: first, a sharp delineation of three sources of constitutional ideas, namely constitutions of Britain and colonies and an emergent imperial constitution ; second, as we might expect from author of The Quest for Power, a heavy emphasis on political practice in shaping constitutional thought; and third, a constant refrain throughout book, importance of consent in a period when coercive resources of government were limited. In all of these areas Greene