Commentaries on the Laws of England: Book 4, Of Public Wrongs

While America's Founding Fathers looked to various sources for political philosophy, the one they turned to predominantly in the field of law was Sir William Blackstone, a barrister and patron of King George III who set out on writing a comprehensive tome of English Common Law. In addition to being a popular work, the massive 4 book Commentaries on the Laws of England brought together all of England's legal precedents, allowing others (like the Americans) to rely on it while forming their own judicial codes. Even today, the U.S. Supreme Court frequently cites Blackstone when interpreting the Constitution.

In Book 4, titled Of Public Wrongs, Blackstone looks at all sorts of crimes, including the elements necessary for each crime and the legal procedures that were used in criminal trials. This book was critical for explaining concepts still taught in law school today, like intent, accessories, and principals.