The preamble and beginning of the original Constitution, in the rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

The preamble and beginning of the original Constitution, in the rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

It’s the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. As the country reflects on his death and legacy, the author of a new book says one basic fact of Lincoln’s life cannot be overlooked: where he is from. Legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar argues that Lincoln’s home in Illinois was key to his views on slavery and secession, making geography central to Lincoln’s contributions to the U.S. Constitution. It’s just one example of how America’s distinct regional differences shape the law of the land. We take a Constitutional road trip with Akhil Reed Amar.

Guests

  • Akhil Reed Amar Professor of law and political Science at Yale University. He is also periodically a visiting professor at Harvard, Columbia and Pepperdine Law Schools and author of four books, including "America’s Constitution."

Video: Behind The Scenes With Akhil Reed Amar

Akhil Reed Amar broke down his new book, “The Law Of The Land,” for the Huffington Post.

Featured Excerpt

Excerpted from “The Law of the Land: A Grand Tour of our Constitutional Republic Hardcover” by Akhil Reed Amar. Copyright 2015. Reprinted with permission from Basic Books.

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