Fletcher's Views on the Two US Constitutions
Fletcher has authorized the book “Our Secret Constitution: How Lincoln Redefined American Democracy,” which covers the author’s views about the two US constitutions, one dating before to the Civil War and the other from the time of combat until the present. One bill signifies nationhood, while the other depicts peoplehood. The first constitution, in instance, was elitist and fought for personal freedom against the national rule, whereas the second represented equality under the law and built a bond among citizens. Also, Fletcher has added that the subsequent part of the constitution involved the Gettysburg Address as well as 13th – 15th revisions (Fletcher 15).
Disagreement with Fletcher's Understanding of Lincoln's Viewpoints
In connection with the above amendments, Fetcher has said that the 39th Congress that passed the last two alterations is the one that laid foundations of entire postwar amendments. It is clear that Fletcher does not understand Lincoln’s viewpoints. Indeed, it is well known that Lincoln never changed from one set of intentions to the other, starting from the preservation of the country up to freeing the slaves. In précis, Fletcher’s work has provided a thought-provoking and imaginative overview concerning the history of American Constitution thus indicating various problematic interpretations and assumptions within this law (Fletcher 137).
Criticism of American Ruling and Historical Records
Indeed, this book is contained with criticism about American ruling that got experienced starting from the post-war period and at the era followed the end of war. In general, this inscriber has provided erroneous issues concerning the nature of law and about the historical records of the presidency of Abraham Lincoln as well as the amendments of the civil wars. In his dialogue about the Gettysburg, George is dismissing the views that those jurists and scholars who overview the ‘original intent’ of the rules and undertaken amendments seem to be morally and intellectually impoverished (Fletcher 30). This argument is based on the fact that the intention of Lincoln does not matter but his words as it is in Gettysburg Address emerges as a proposition to the order of new constitution where Abraham said that he consider the new structure being a sacred thing (Fletcher 33).
Fletcher's Negative Attitude Towards American Rulings
Similarly, Fletcher has argued that the intentions of the Congress to suggest and demand ratification of postwar modifications are not essential as compared to the meaning which that later community attached to them. In Fletcher’s outlook, constitutions, laws, amendments, and speeches still appear to be empty vessels by which all American generations has poured its individualistic implications. Based on the above arguments, it is clear that George is having a negative attitude towards the rulings that are exercised in American and he is considering them unnecessary (Fletcher 218).
Controversy of the Second Constitution and Fletcher's Preference for the First
Moreover, Fletcher is disputing that the unprecedented document as well as the 13th, 14th, and 15th constitutional amendments have created the foundation for the second constitution regarding unrefined nationhood, popular democracy, equality if all individuals among other fundamentally unaccepted principles particularly by the individuals who supported the initial constitution. Indeed, Fletcher is considering the first constitution for its provisions including voluntary association, republicanism, and individual freedom (Fletcher 99).
Fletcher's Argument on the Secretive Pressure Behind the Second Constitution
Basing his universal argument of France’s Napoleonic Code in the repercussion of the Terror and on Basic Law of Germany subsequent to Holocaust and WWII, this author furthermore quarrels persuasively that the second constitution was structured in an aim of religiously basing the law that will preserve historical credentials. Indeed, Fletcher’s argument that the second constitution got pressured secretively only to slowly rematerialize is making sense in consideration of rulings from Supreme Court as well as cited constitutional amendments, there appears a slight significant chronological divergence (Fletcher 58).
The Role of Supreme Court in 2000 Presidential Election
Additionally, Fletcher winds up his chronicle of the strange calling concerning the “Secret Constitution” with an evaluation of the role of Supreme Court in the presidential election conducted in the year 2000. In the scrutiny of this scene, Fletcher argues that there is no single scenario which clearly indicated the way torn the national psyches were amid the guidelines established in 1787 and adjusted in 1803. It was also at the same time when the new principles of democracy were established in the Gettysburg Address and they got attached to the Secret Constitution (Fletcher 234). Despite the election potentially looking being capable of maintaining democratic commitments concerning the used constitution, in 1876, there are diverse resemblances of interference of power-brokers (Fletcher 238).
Fletcher's Contemplative Views on the American Constitution
While summing up, Fletcher has conducted a vital task of offering reader with an inventive and contemplation inciting views about the history of American Constitution. In the main, this author has provided a scrutiny about some awkward interpretations and assumptions concerning the temperament of law and about the past record of Lincoln’s administration and the amendments of the Civil War. For instance, Fletcher holds that the second constitution was aiming at consistently establishing a law that will preserve historical credentials and for preserving personal interests of senior government officials (Fletcher 98). However, Fletcher’s intentions were to pressure the establishment of the constitution with essential provisions such as voluntary association, republicanism, and rights of freedom, equality, and democracy-based regime. Indeed, Fletcher has achieved his intention since currently, the American government has amended its constitution to include the above prerequisites.
Works Cited
Fletcher, George P. Our Secret Constitution: How Lincoln Redefined American Democracy. Oxford University Press, 2003. New York.
