This was the first casebook devoted exclusively to American legal and constitutional history, giving students not only an understanding of the development of law, but also a broader understanding of American history generally. It literally helped create the field of American legal history. Subsequent editions have included more materials on race, criminal and family law, as well as the best writing in this increasingly important area of legal studies. In recent years, the Supreme Court, its admirers and critics are increasingly turning to legal history as a means of evaluating current doctrine. This casebook is an indispensable tool in that endeavor.