Don E. Fehrenbacher (born May 23, 1920, in Omaha, Nebraska) was an influential American historian known for his expertise in American history and intellectual thought. Throughout his career, he contributed significantly to the understanding of the complexities of American societal change, shaping discussions around tradition, conflict, and modernization.
Studies this famous case of judicial failure, and discusses the legal bases of slavery, the debate over the Constitution, and the dispute over slavery and continental expansion.