William Blackstone’s Influence on American Political Thought

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
References

Introduction

One of the key thinkers that affected the American Constitution and political philosophy, in general, became William Blackstone. In his publications, William Blackstone discusses subjects that have influenced a number of current legislations in the United States. He had a significant impact on American political thought. Blackstone’s influence on American political thought is significantly based on the morality and ideals he upholds in his writings, which is also why his thoughts and notions have had a significant influence on American statute and case law. American law, separation of powers, and especially the U.S. Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia were influenced by William Blackstone’s ideas. He advanced views that are reflected in the Constitution and other American legislation. Additionally, Blackstone had an impact on American law both during the formulation of the U.S. Constitution and in actual court proceedings.

Discussion

The preamble, articles, and Bill of Rights of the Constitution, as well as several later amendments, are all clearly influenced by Blackstone’s principles. Blackstone’s natural law conception of liberty as a gift from God is echoed by one of the objectives of the U.S.U.S. Constitution, which is to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our successors” (U.S. Const. Pmbl.). The notion of natural law that Blackstone so eloquently outlined supports the idea of just law (Dickinson, 2019). The Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which address due process, are another example of how Blackstone’s idea of justice shapes many aspects of American legislation (Britner, 2020). Another illustration is the impact of Blackstone on the Bill of Rights, which lists a few minor freedoms like “freedom to petition” and “right to bear weapons.” (U.S. Const. Amend. I, II) Blackstone has frequently argued that a free state cannot exist without press freedom, hence there cannot previously have been any restraints on publications.

Being one of the key thinkers of his time, Blackstone had a certain amount of influence on other great political philosophers, such as Tocqueville. Tocqueville concentrated on equality and the pursuit of both freedom and equality for all people. He believed that “the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” springs from equality, which is the fundamental tenant of democracy (Goldie, 2019). There are connections that can be traced between many of William Blackstone’s principles and their influence on Tocqueville, whether the topic is freedom of the press or the right to assemble. This is particularly evident in the division of authority and the separation of religion and state. Tocqueville contends that morality is necessary for morality, and religion is necessary for religion (Bilakovics, 2019). He supported a separation of church and state, in keeping with Blackwater’s theories, arguing that only through separation would religious influence remain potent enough to have a positive impact on civil society. Blackstone’s influence on the Founding was evident in Tocqueville’s observations, where he mentioned lawyers’ roles and illustrated Blackstone’s points and concepts in the issue. Moreover, he highlighted the positive role of the separation of church and state, which is one of the key Blackstone’s influences on Founding (Goldie, 2019). These became key examples of Blackstone’s importance regarding the Founding in Tocqueville’s writings.

Conclusion

In summary, Blackstone’s publications revealed and clarified notions that early American jurists and the authors of the U.S. Constitution and the American Declaration of Independence took seriously. His impact continues to be felt today in the United States Constitution, American legal culture, political and judiciary leaders, and legal education. Numerous concepts from Blackstone’s works found their way into the framework of American political thought. It is difficult to comprehend the legacy Blackstone left for America in terms of his influence on the U.S. Constitution. As it was seen, many of the key political thinkers of the era, such as Tocqueville, were influenced by Blackstone’s ideals and concepts.

References

Barr, M. L. (2021). Imagination and the Lyric Constitution. In Romanticism and the Rule of Law (pp. 111–151). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

Bilakovics, S. (2019). The Voices of Our Virtues: Tocqueville and the Constitution of the American Dream. American Political Thought, 8(3), 365-392.

Britner, R. (2020). Our Constitution Made Easy. WestBow Press.

Dickinson, H. T. (2019). Comments on William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England. History, 104(362), 710–728.

Goldie, M. (2019). The ancient Constitution and the languages of political thought. The Historical Journal, 62(1), 3–34.

U.S. Const. Amend. I

U.S. Const. Amend. II

U.S. Const. Pmbl.

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William Blackstone’s Influence on American Political Thought

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