How do we account for the rise of international law in the United States? The answer cannot be simple, and it may never be complete. Yet, approaching this question may enable us to better account for the state of American international law today and to help to predict its future.
This volume, the first of two, charts the history and emergence of international law in the American common law tradition, from its English roots in the late 18th century to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. The author addresses this complex issue by linking those who played a part in the intellectual...

America and the Law of Nations 1776-1939 is a unique exploration of the ways in which Americans have perceived, applied, advanced, and frustrated international law. It demonstrates the varieties and continuities of America's approaches to international law. The book begins with the important role the law of nations played for founders like Jefferson and Madison in framing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. It then discusses the intellectual contributions to international law made by leaders in the New Republic -Kent and Wheaton- and the place of international law in the...