James Wilson's Reidian Revolution Principle

Scottish born American Founder James Wilson played a significant role in developing and interpreting the US Constitution. At the core of his political theory and his interpretation of the US Constitution is his Revolution Principle. This principle recognises that a radically extensive level of popular sovereignty perpetually resides in the people at large. While the principle's roots are regularly identified as Lockean, I will argue that recognising Wilson's adherence to and development of the Common Sense Philosophy of his fellow Scot, Thomas Reid, reveals and explains important aspects of his Revolution Principle, including its marked difference from Locke's. These insights, given Wilson's interpretation of his Revolution Principle's place in the US Constitution, suggest potentially significant implications for contemporary US politics and constitutional law.