Origins of the Fifth Amendment: The Right Against Self-incrimination

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Ivan R. Dee, 1999 - History - 561 pages
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in history and a landmark in the study of constitutional origins, Leonard Levy's now-classic study appears for the first time in paperback. Origins probes the intentions of the framers of the Fifth Amendment and emphasizes their belief that in a society based upon respect for the individual, it is more important that the accused not unwillingly contribute to his conviction than that the guilty be punished. "A work of monumental scholarship--broad in scope, thorough, carefully annotated, accurate, and imaginative."--Political Science Quarterly. "Vastly learned...everywhere critical and reflective...written in a style at once lucid and vigorous. All in all, it is quite clearly one of the important contributions to historical literature."--Henry Steele Commager. "A matchless contribution to our understanding of the historical background underlying the adoption of a major provision of the Bill of Rights."--American Political Science Review. "A masterful job."--Oscar Handlin.

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Contents

Rival Systems of Criminal Procedure
3
The Oath Ex Officio
43
The Elizabethan Persecution of Catholics
83
Copyright

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About the author (1999)

Leonard W. Levy is formerly Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional History at Brandeis University and Andrew W. Mellon All-Claremont Professor of Humanities and History at the Claremont Graduate School. His other writings, many of which have also won awards, include The Palladium of Justice, Blasphemy, The Establishment Clause, Freedom of the Press from Zenger to Jefferson, Original Intent and the Framers' Constitution, and Jefferson and Civil Liberties. He lives in Ashland, Oregon.

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