The Creation of American Law: John Jay, Oliver Ellsworth and the 1790s Supreme Court

With the Constitutional Convention in 1787, America was set on a course to develop a unique system of law with roots in the English common law tradition. This new system, its foundations in Article III of the Constitution, called for a national judiciary headed by a supreme court--which first met in 1790.

This book serves as a history of America's national law with a look at those--such as John Jay (the first Chief), James Iredell, Bushrod Washington and James Wilson--who set in motion not...