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A Constitutional History of Secession
A timeless reference on the right of secession from Britainis Glorious Revolution to Canada's current situation. Born in Minnesota, John Remington Graham is a constitutional-law attorney who served as an advisor on secession to the amicus curiae for Quebec.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 21, 2021
According to this author, a Constitutional Legal Expert, the South had every right to secede from the Union back in 1860.
October 25, 2008
This book was fantastic. I had long wondered how the founders could have done such a sloppy job that the constitution is toothless after less than 200 years. This book explains it--they didn't screw up--it took Lincoln and a million dead americans to kill the constitution they thought they were fighting for.
January 6, 2016
This is really an excellent work, and the five star reviewers give credit where credit is due. For the purposes of my review, I'd like to offer that this book is worthy of five stars with the following exceptions:
- It is not really a "History" of Secession, in that Graham takes sides in the debate. It is more of a "Defense" of Secession, and a very able one at that.
- There are a couple of points in the narrative in which Graham takes minority views and doesn't adequately support them with sufficient facts. One example is his assertion that the British Empire was not ruled by the crown but by the East India Company. This is certainly plausible, but Graham does not take the time and space to adequately support this view. The "fact" is then used to support other theses later in the book. A few other like examples could be stated.
- The book gives thorough treatment to secessions in the English-speaking world, but short shrift to other, equally important, historical examples.
- The Epilogue is really a chapter on the history of the Constitution of Canada; not really an epilogue in any real sense.
Having gotten those quibbles out of my system, I'll return to my opening comment -- this is an excellent work. Graham makes an unimpeachable case that a) secession is a constitutional right, and b) that right strengthens, not weakens, a confederacy in which the right is recognized. Highly recommended for those interested in restoring liberty and republicanism in America.
- It is not really a "History" of Secession, in that Graham takes sides in the debate. It is more of a "Defense" of Secession, and a very able one at that.
- There are a couple of points in the narrative in which Graham takes minority views and doesn't adequately support them with sufficient facts. One example is his assertion that the British Empire was not ruled by the crown but by the East India Company. This is certainly plausible, but Graham does not take the time and space to adequately support this view. The "fact" is then used to support other theses later in the book. A few other like examples could be stated.
- The book gives thorough treatment to secessions in the English-speaking world, but short shrift to other, equally important, historical examples.
- The Epilogue is really a chapter on the history of the Constitution of Canada; not really an epilogue in any real sense.
Having gotten those quibbles out of my system, I'll return to my opening comment -- this is an excellent work. Graham makes an unimpeachable case that a) secession is a constitutional right, and b) that right strengthens, not weakens, a confederacy in which the right is recognized. Highly recommended for those interested in restoring liberty and republicanism in America.
June 23, 2025
Not worth reading. One-sided and dishonest.
Currently reading
January 16, 2008Having met the author, who served as the chief legal counsel on behalf of the (failed) Quebec secession bid of the mid-1990s, and who possesses an intricate knowledge of secessionism and its roots in European history, I simply had to read this book.
June 30, 2011
This book is nothing more than unsupported, shoddily researched, neo-secessionist garbage. Serious scholars need not even look at the cover of this book.
July 13, 2025
This was a fantastic book that broadened my thinking; I’ve bought two additional books because of reading this one. There are jewels to be found here and I’m glad I decided to tackle it. Secession is tracked from England to America and finishes up in Canada.
I loved how characters that are largely ignored or thought ill of are elevated. It was intriguing to hear an opinion outside the norm. An example of this is the author’s defense of McClellan.
Be sure to read the end notes because there are treasures in there!
I loved how characters that are largely ignored or thought ill of are elevated. It was intriguing to hear an opinion outside the norm. An example of this is the author’s defense of McClellan.
Be sure to read the end notes because there are treasures in there!
January 4, 2026
HOLY, what a yapper.
This book shouldn’t be called “A Constitutional History of Secession” but instead “A History of States-Rights’, Anti-Big-Government Oriented Thought” or something of the sort. Obviously I don’t think there aren’t any relations between the contents of the many chapters, but I feel as if this book could be categorized as a brain dump of different topics.
Nonetheless, there are particular things I see myself revisiting the book for- and those nuggets certainly carry the book for me.
I’m glad I didn’t buy this but borrowed from the library instead.
This book shouldn’t be called “A Constitutional History of Secession” but instead “A History of States-Rights’, Anti-Big-Government Oriented Thought” or something of the sort. Obviously I don’t think there aren’t any relations between the contents of the many chapters, but I feel as if this book could be categorized as a brain dump of different topics.
Nonetheless, there are particular things I see myself revisiting the book for- and those nuggets certainly carry the book for me.
I’m glad I didn’t buy this but borrowed from the library instead.
May 8, 2016
Quite informative. Rated 3 stars due to spelling and grammar errors. Didn't quite agree with his assessment of Confederate Gen. Johnston.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews