American Constitutionalism Heard Round the World, 1776-1989: A Global Perspective

Acknowledgments

vii Acknowledgments My vision of the republic of letters is broader than most. It acquired an international dimension when not only American colleagues but also foreign scholars came to my assistance. Time as well as space was involved as I became more aware of how much I relied on the findings of past scholars. The borders of my republic expanded further when individuals from other institutions of higher learning—universities, research centers, and foundations—contributed to the completion of this book. Finally, the boundaries of my republic were enlarged when I realized once again the tremendous importance of personal relationships—family, friends, and colleagues—as well as professional affiliations. They provide the emotional safety net without which no scholar can work. To these dedicated citizens in my republic of letters, I welcome this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks. Three friends and fellow historians in Worcester—Peter Onuf, Ronald Petrin, and Robert Kolesar—helped get the project under way in a brownbag seminar at Clark University. Peter continued to contribute handsomely after leaving Worcester Polytechnic Institute for the University of Virginia. A bold scholar and ebullient friend, he read the entire manuscript , critiqued chapters, and changed the parameters of the project as originally conceived. Other gifted scholars contributed generously by reading the whole manuscript at various stages. Bernard Bailyn asked to see my first draft while working on his To Begin the World Anew. After performing the heroic task of plowing through fifteen hundred pages of raw manuscript, he offered useful suggestions and encouragement. Stanley Katz, whose grasp of American constitutionalism abroad is formidable among scholars worldwide, made searching criticisms and graciously shared his knowledge . Francis Couvares, a former Clark colleague, offered many astute insights , applied his exceptional editing skills, and suggested a major reorganization critical to the completion of the project. Herbert Bass, a former viii Acknowledgments colleague at the University of Maine who had helped me many times before , made stylistic revisions and additions that allowed the narrative to emerge with greater clarity. Paul Lucas, a current Clark colleague, taught me much about comparative history, as befits a student of Robert R. Palmer, and corrected some of my misconceptions. Martin Ridge, the late director of research at the Huntington Library and the one-time editor of the Journal of American History, went over an early draft with his blue pencil. Mark Tushnet was kind enough to comb the text from his perspective of comparative legal history and to make an incisive critique. Robert Middlekauf was helpful by giving suggestions on where I might condense material. Alden Vaughan, a fellow Columbia PhD and longtime comrade, skillfully edited a late version with scrupulous care. Gerald Grob, my best friend and former Clark colleague with whom I have collaborated in the past, went over the final copy for glaring errors and responded with his usual dry and sly humor. Besides those who read the entire manuscript, I am indebted to other scholars who went over portions of the work. Some of the greatest historians of early American history of this generation responded generously by reading parts of my manuscript dealing with their area of expertise. Among those who unselfishly took time from their own research were: Gordon Wood, Michael Kammen, Jack Greene, John Reid, Richard B. Bernstein, Richard D. Brown, Stanley Kutler, Herbert Johnson, Richard McCormick, and Stanley Elkins. I was fortunate to have America’s most distinguished world historian, William McNeill, give me the benefit of his great store of learning. The late Milton Klein, whose friendship stretched for fifty-six years, deserves special mention for reading and editing much of what I wrote. Another category of scholars contributed by commenting on countries or regions about which they had special knowledge: Alan Spitzer (France), Paul Cohen (modern Europe), Daniel Borg (Germany), John Dower (Japan ), Lawrence Beer (Japan), Keith Rosenn (Latin America), Thomas Skidmore (Latin America), Pnina Lahav (Israel), Shlomo Slonim (Israel), John Iatrides (Greece), and Paul Ropp (China). To Scott Gerber I am indebted for bringing my manuscript to the attention of New York University Press and for reading and editing several key chapters. I am obligated also to three members of the staff of the New York University Press, Deborah Gershenowitz, Gabrielle Begue, and Despina Papazoglou Gimbel for being so very helpful in textual editing and bringing the book to final form. Acknowledgments ix In completing the book, I am pleased to acknowledge the support of a...