American Constitutionalism Abroad: Selected Essays in Comparative Constitutional History

American constitutionalism remains this country’s greatest contribution to human freedom. The ideas and ideals expressed in the U.S. Constitution and related documents, and the institutions developed in them have influenced different people in different lands over the past two hundred years. In American Constitutionalism Abroad, six distinguished historians, political scientists, and international law experts, discuss American constitutionalism in various regions of the world at different times, and within different contexts.

In terms of time and space, the influence of American constitutionalism is demonstrated in Europe between 1776 and 1848; Latin America during the nineteenth century; Asia in the twentieth century; and Germany in 1949 and France in 1958. One essay shows how the legacy of American constitutionalism was expressed in parallel movements in the nineteenth century to create a peaceful, liberal world order based on a proposed international legal code. By tracing the influence of the documents, procedures, and institutions that came into being within the United States during the founding period from 1776 to 1791, and by analyzing how they were received and perceived by constitutionmakers in other countries, it is possible to follow the spread of American constitutionalism through various parts of the world over time. By focusing on the influence of American constitutionalism abroad, this book breaks exciting new ground in the study of the Constitution. This work will appeal not only to American and legal historians, but to political scientists as well.