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84 CHI.-KENT J. INT¶L & COMP. L. Vol. XIII

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Introduction .........................................................................................86
I. Common Law and Civil Law Legal Methodology ...........................87
II. Cause, Consideration, and Reciprocal Inducement...........................90
A. The French Code Civil¶V5HTXLUHPHQWRI&DXVH ..........................91
B. The Common Law Requirement of Consideration .......................92
1. A Brief History......................................................................93
2. Consideration in Modern U.S. Contract Law ...........................95
III. Promissory Estoppel as Shield and Sword ................................. 101
A. Protecting Reliance on Promises as well as Representations of Facts
.............................................................................................. 101
1. Promissory Estoppel in the United States .............................. 102
2. English Estoppel for Reliance on a Promise........................... 104
B. Promissory Estoppel as a Sword, as Well as a Shield ................. 105
1. Estoppel as a Shield in England ............................................ 105
2. Estoppel as a Sword in the United States ............................... 108
No. 2 Cause Consideration Prom issory Estoppel 85

C. Explaining the Divergence Between Promissory Estoppel in

England and the U.S. ...................................................................... 111
1. Sword and Shield More Fully Defined .................................. 111
2. Is the Divergence Narrowed Through Recognition of an Implied
Exchange? .................................................................................. 112
3. Filling the Gap: English Recognition of Promises Under Deed
115
Conclusion......................................................................................... 118
 

 
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promise ± a promise to make a gift. Compared to the civil law concept of
cause , the common law requirement of consideration is fairly restrictive. A
charitable motivation can provide the cause , or reason, for a promise to
make a gift; however, the consideration requirement excludes such gratui-
tous promises.
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