People have been denied citizenship in America for many reasons. Would it surprise you to learn that four of those people were denied because they were conscientious objectors to war? The government believed that because they were not willing to bear arms in defense of the country, they were not attached to the principles of the Constitution, as required by naturalization law. Ironically, none of these people were eligible for military service because of their age, and two of them were women. Furthermore, when both women were denied citizenship it was during a period when women could not serve in the military. Following overviews of the history of immigration and pacifism in America, chapters are devoted to the four different forms of conscientious objection: philosophical absolute pacifism, religiously informed absolute pacifism, selective conscientious objection, and conscientious cooperator. Each chapter discusses the individual, the arguments for their claim to citizenship, the government's arguments against them, and an analysis of the Supreme Court Opinion in their case. In short, each chapter gives a comprehensive treatment of the personalities and the issues involved. A fascinating and informative read for theology and law students, scholars and for those intrigued in immigration and/or pacifism.

"With clear-eyed understanding of church-state history and an incredible attention to detail. Ron Flowers opens up the tangle of conscientious objection and naturalization. What comfort to find a study by a first-class scholar of the United States Constitution and religion who grasps freedom of conscience. Flowers...opens a window on the converging streams of immigration and pacifism issues. This book deserves and demands the serious personal attention of every scholar in religion, political science, government, and law. It is full of primary sources and adds up to a satisfying completeness and calls forth conclusions." - Journal of Church and State

"...Flowers provides vivid illustrations of the cultural context for these varied lawsuits, noting the diverse public interaction with these cases. Intellectually, Flowers' subjects span a spectrum of conscientious cooperation....To Defend the Constitution provides an impressive analysis of immigration, principled dissent, and legal conflict in American history. Student[s] of pacifism and religious politics in American life should include this work in their bibliographic survey." - Religious Studies Review