U.S. common law is based on English Law. American law is on a continuum of with English Law. Blackstone is considered fundamental to understanding American Law. American courts have interpreted self-defense consistent with Blackstone for 200 years. (In the Perry Mason novels, there is a bust of Blackstone in Perry's office. In the TV series, they made due with a bust of Voltaire as a stand in for Blackstone.)
William Blackstone, The TV Office Bust