The Interbellum Constitution: Union, Commerce, and Slavery in the Age of Federalisms. By Alison L. LaCroix. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2024. 576 pp. 24 B/W illustrations. Hardcover, 45. 00. ISBN: 978-0-300-22321-7.

Key Points

• The aim is to analyze how federalism influenced the Constitution and its implications for commerce and slavery during the interbellum period.
• In-depth textual analysis of historical documents
• Comparative study of federal and state powers
• Examination of legal frameworks regarding commerce and slavery
• Identified key constitutional developments related to commerce and federalism
• Highlighted the tensions between state and federal authority in slavery issues
• Demonstrated the lasting effects of interbellum governance on U.S. law