This section is from the book "The Law Of Contracts", by Samuel Williston. Also available from Amazon: Treatise on the Law of Contracts.
A breach of contract involves a broken promise........................ 1288
Promises payable on demand.........................................1289
Partial and total breach............................................ 1290
One action only is allowed for a single breach of contract............... 1291
Sometimes one action only allowed for several breaches of contract.......1292
Implied promises.................................................. 1293
Performance of a promise must be made as such....................... 1294
Renewed offers of performance...................................... 1295
Anticipatory or prospective breach................................... 1296
Lord Cockburn's rule in regard to repudiation......................... 1297
First half of Cockburn's rule approved in England but inconsistent with American decisions............................................... 1298
Role of damages not applicable in every case......................... 1299
American decisions sound........................................... 1300
Inconsistency of Cockburn's language - True rule...................... 1301
Contract not terminated............................................ 1302
Practical importance of distinction................................... 1303
No manifestation of election necessary................................ 1304
Prospective inability to perform should excuse......................... 1305
Time when right of action accrues................................... 1306
Arguments from principle and precedent.............................. 1307
Early decision..................................................... 1308
Explanation of the decision......................................... 1309
Explanation of case continued....................................... 1310
Erroneous statement of Fuller, C. J.................................. 1311
Other English cases................................................ 1312
Hochster v. De La Tour............................................. 1313
Modern law....................................................... 1314
Distinction between defence and right of action........................ 1315
Distinction between action for restitution and action on the contract.....1316
No inconsistency in allowing full damages before all performance due..... 1317
Action may be based on breach of subsidiary promise................... 1318
Time of performance fixed by act of the promisee...................... 1319
Contracts to marry................................................ 1320
Practical convenience.............................................. 1321
Necessity of election to treat repudiation as a breach................... 1322
What constitutes an election to treat repudiation as a breach............ 1323
Positiveness of repudiation.......................................... 1324
What amounts to total repudiation.................................. 1326
Whether anticipatory inability to perform amounts to a breach.......... 1326
Supreme Court holds bankruptcy anticipatory breach.................. 1327
Them can be no anticipatory breach of unilateral obligations............ 1328
Independent obligations............................................ 1329
Repudiated contract of insurance.................................... 1330
Repudiation may be a defence though it does not amount to a breach.... 1331
Time when repudiation becomes effectual........................... 1332
Effect of failing to elect to treat repudiation as a breach under the English rule............................................................ 1333
American decisions opposed to English rule............................ 1334
Withdrawal of repudiation........................................... 1336
Possible distinction between the effect of repudiation before breach and after partial breach of a contract....................................... 1336
Summary of American doctrine in regard to anticipatory breach......... 1337
 
Continue to: