It's a chilling comparison-- if the constitutional engineering of Dred Scott catalyzed the Civil War, then what does this mean about the consequences of Trump's executive order? Are we looking at a future in which decisions about birthright citizenship fall back to the states? With federal protections crumbling, it seems as though we are hurtling towards a divisiveness not seen since the Civil War.
It is unsettling how one policy debate can crack open much bigger questions. Birthright citizenship is just a flashpoint; the deeper issue is when rules we thought were settled become contested.
Constitutions are supposed to lower political stakes by setting shared ground rules. When those rules themselves become the battlefield, trust collapses and power becomes the only measure.
We may not repeat the Civil War, but we risk repeating its logic: disagreement over who belongs and what’s non‑negotiable. When belonging becomes a political prize, division follows.
It's a chilling comparison-- if the constitutional engineering of Dred Scott catalyzed the Civil War, then what does this mean about the consequences of Trump's executive order? Are we looking at a future in which decisions about birthright citizenship fall back to the states? With federal protections crumbling, it seems as though we are hurtling towards a divisiveness not seen since the Civil War.
It is unsettling how one policy debate can crack open much bigger questions. Birthright citizenship is just a flashpoint; the deeper issue is when rules we thought were settled become contested.
Constitutions are supposed to lower political stakes by setting shared ground rules. When those rules themselves become the battlefield, trust collapses and power becomes the only measure.
We may not repeat the Civil War, but we risk repeating its logic: disagreement over who belongs and what’s non‑negotiable. When belonging becomes a political prize, division follows.