Rhetoric and Empire: Constitutional Thought and Literature in the 19th-Century Anglosphere

Abstract The article explores the intersections between constitutional theory and literary discourse in the 19th-century Anglosphere, focusing on the interactions between Britain and the United States, in general, and on “constitutional colonialism” and the related theme of slavery, in particular. Firstly, it examines how constitutional thought was framed through rhetorical, narrative, and literary techniques, also shaping national identity and political ideology. Secondly, it assesses the UK and the U.S. constitutional frameworks through this lens, emphasising the literary and rhetorical features inherent in their constitutional contexts. The article then investigates the tensions between constitutional promises of justice, autonomy, and citizenship, and the realities of colonial oppression, with a particular focus on slavery as one of the most divisive issues of the 19th century. As literature played a crucial role in raising public awareness and influencing political decisions regarding the theme of slavery, the article will finally highlight how some literary texts, such as Anthony Trollope’s North America , acted simultaneously as a medium of resistance and legal discourse.