How did American lawyers use Blackstone’s Commentaries after the Declaration of Independence?

Following the American Declaration of Independence, Sir William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England became the primary source of knowledge regarding English law in the United States.12

While the work served as a foundational textbook for legal education in the new republic, it was often treated as an "oracle of law". Despite its status, American judges and legislators remained practical, ensuring that the nation's "living law" was shaped primarily by local institutions rather than relying solely on Blackstone’s treatise. Over time, the influence of the Commentaries waned; by the late 19th century, American legal scholars began to move away from his framework, and by the mid-20th century, the work was largely regarded as a historical symbol rather than a primary legal authority.2