We Shall Overcome: A History of Civil Rights and the Law

by Alexander Tsesis

Overview

Despite America's commitment to civil rights from the earliest days of nationhood, examples of injustices against minorities stain many pages of U.S. history. This comprehensive book traces the history of legal efforts to achieve civil rights for all Americans, beginning with the years leading up to the Revolution and continuing to our own times.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780300145311
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Publication date:	01/01/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	604 KB

About the Author

Alexander Tsesis is assistant professor of law at Loyola University of Chicago, School of Law. His previous books include The Thirteenth Amendment and American Freedom: A Legal History and Destructive Messages: How Hate Speech Paves the Way for Harmful Social Movements. He lives in Chicago and Milwaukee.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

1 Liberty through Revolution 9

2 Constitutional Republic of Equals? 22

3 The Controversy about Slavery 45

4 Sectional Compromise and National Conflict 65

5 Reconstructing the American Dream 83

6 Unraveling Constitutional Reconstruction 117

7 Political Restrictions and Developments 132

8 Progressive Transitions 162

9 Rights in the Regulatory State 173

10 The War against Tyranny 210

11 Expanding Civil Rights 238

12 The Warren Court's Achievements 251

13 Sketches of the Continuing Legal Effort 280

Notes 305

Index 355

Editorial Reviews

We Shall Overcome is a comprehensive history of Civil Rights and the Law in the United States from the revolutionary era to the present. . . . a fine syntheses of the evolution of legal developments concerning Native Americans, sex equity, including discrimination based on sexual orientation, and discrimination based on national origin and language.”—Mary Frances Berry, American Studies

American Studies - Mary Frances Berry

"The book's greatest strength is its breadth of coverage, providing invaluable, concise summaries of legislation, court decisions, and presidential actions across American history and a broad interpretative framework to house these separate pieces."--The Journal of Southern History

The Journal of Southern History

"We Shall Overcome is. . . remarkable for the resolute optimism that it brings to the prospect of achieving equality through law. It is a rich and valuable introduction to the history of civil rights."--Law and History Review

Law and History Review

"Tsesis has written an engaging overview of many of the key moments in the legal history of civil rights in the United States."--Journal of American Ethnic History

Journal of American Ethnic History

". . . a unique book that explores the nature of civil rights law in the U.S. . . . Tsesis does a great service to the field as he intersperses, with a thoughtful yet objective perspective, how civil rights law in the U.S. might expand . . ."— Choice

Choice

"All citizens would be wise to read We Shall Overcome."—Eleanor J. Bader, New York Law Journal

New York Law Journal - Eleanor J. Bader

“Alexander Tsesis presents a full, thoughtful, and readable history of civil rights in the United States—an outstanding account from the optimistic, liberal perspective that modern advances are the working out of the egalitarian vision of the American founders.”—Michael Les Benedict, author of The Blessings of Liberty

Michael Les Benedict

“Anyone interested in obtaining a broad overview of Americans’ contested history of popular, legislative, and judicial efforts to achieve—and to obstruct—racial and gender equality will benefit from reading We Shall Overcome.”—Mark Tushnet, Harvard Law School

Mark Tushnet

"Tsesis has written an astonishingly clear and compelling history of what most people would define as 'civil rights' over the past two centuries. It is consistently illuminating."—Sanford Levinson, University of Texas School of Law

Sanford Levinson

“This impressive book goes beyond existing works by showing how America’s commitment to equal rights constantly collides with its commitment to liberty.”—Richard Delgado, University of Pittsburgh School of Law

Richard Delgado

“Alex Tsesis, one of our leading constitutional scholars, superbly demonstrates how the struggle for civil rights in the United States has evolved over the past two centuries. His sweeping synthesis, combining a sure grasp of legal and political history, provides a perfect foundation for understanding why the issues surrounding minority rights and grievances remain such a dominant force in our nation today.”—David Oshinsky, University of Texas

David Oshinsky

We Shall Overcome is a comprehensive history of Civil Rights and the Law in the United States from the revolutionary era to the present. . . . a fine syntheses of the evolution of legal developments concerning Native Americans, sex equity, including discrimination based on sexual orientation, and discrimination based on national origin and language.”—Mary Frances Berry, American Studies
— Mary Frances Berry

American Studies

"All citizens would be wise to read We Shall Overcome."—Eleanor J. Bader, New York Law Journal

— Eleanor J. Bader

New York Law Journal