Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815 (Oxford History of the United States)

The Oxford History of the United States is by far the most respected multi-volume history of our nation. The series includes three Pulitzer Prize winners, two New York Times bestsellers, and winners of the Bancroft and Parkman Prizes. Now, in the newest volume in the series, one of America's most esteemed historians, Gordon S. Wood, offers a brilliant account of the early American Republic, ranging from 1789 and the beginning of the national government to the end of the War of 1812. As Wood reveals, the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of American lifein politics, society, economy, and culture. The men who founded the new government had high hopes for the future, but few of their hopes and dreams worked out quite as they expected. They hated political parties but parties nonetheless emerged. Some wanted the United States to become a great fiscal-military state like those of Britain and France; others wanted the country to remain a rural agricultural state very different from the European states. Instead, by 1815 the United States became something neither group anticipated. Many leaders expected American culture to flourish and surpass that of Europe; instead it became popularized and vulgarized. The leaders also hope to see the end of slavery; instead, despite the release of many slaves and the end of slavery in the North, slavery was stronger in 1815 than it had been in 1789. Many wanted to avoid entanglements with Europe, but instead the country became involved in Europe's wars and ended up waging another war with the former mother country. Still, with a new generation emerging by 1815, most Americans were confident and optimistic about the future of their country. Integrating all aspects of life, from politics and law to the economy and culture, Empire of Liberty offers a marvelous account of this pivotal era when America took its first unsteady steps as a new and rapidly expanding nation. A Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for HistoryWinner of the New-York Historical Society American History Book PrizeA New York Times BestsellerSelected as one of the Top 25 Books of 2009 by The Atlantic"On every page of this book, Wood's subtlety and erudition show. Grand in scope and a landmark achievement of scholarship, Empire of Liberty is a tour de force, the culmination of a lifetime of brilliant thinking and writing." The New York Times Book Review"Empire of Liberty will rightly take its place among the authoritative volumes in this important and influential series."The Washington Post The Oxford History of the United States is by far the most respected multi-volume history of our nation. The series includes three Pulitzer Prize winners, two New York Times bestsellers, and winners of the Bancroft and Parkman Prizes. Now, in the newest volume in the series, one of America's most esteemed historians, Gordon S. Wood, offers a brilliant account of the early American Republic, ranging from 1789 and the beginning of the national government to the end of the War of 1812. As Wood reveals, the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of American life--in politics, society, economy, and culture. The men who founded the new government had high hopes for the future, but few of their hopes and dreams worked out quite as they expected. They hated political parties but parties nonetheless emerged. Some wanted the United States to become a great fiscal-military state like those of Britain and France; others wanted the country to remain a rural agricultural state very different from the European states. Instead, by 1815 the United States became something neither group anticipated. Many leaders expected American culture to flourish and surpass that of Europe; instead it became popularized and vulgarized. The leaders also hope to see the end of slavery; instead, despite the release of many slaves and the end of slavery in the North, slavery was stronger in 1815 than it had been in 1789. Many wanted to avoid entanglements with Europe, but instead the country became involved in Europe's wars and ended up waging another war with the former mother country. Still, with a new generation emerging by 1815, most Americans were confident and optimistic about the future of their country. Named a New York Times Notable Book, Empire of Liberty offers a marvelous account of this pivotal era when America took its first unsteady steps as a new and rapidly expanding nation. In this book the author offers an account of the early American Republic, ranging from 1789 and the beginning of the national government to the end of the War of 1812. As he reveals, the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of American life: in politics, society, economy, and culture. The men who founded the new government had high hopes for the future, but few of their hopes and dreams worked out quite as they expected. They hated political parties but parties nonetheless emerged. Some wanted the United States to become a great fiscal-military state like those of Britain and France; others wanted the country to remain a rural agricultural state very different from the European states. Instead, by 1815 the United States became something neither group anticipated. Many leaders expected American culture to flourish and surpass that of Europe; instead it became popularized and vulgarized. The leaders also hoped to see the end of slavery; instead, despite the release of many slaves and the end of slavery in the North, slavery was stronger in 1815 than it had been in 1789. Many wanted to avoid entanglements with Europe, but instead the country became involved in Europe's wars and ended up waging another war with the former mother country. Still, with a new generation emerging by 1815, most Americans were confident and optimistic about the future of their country. This is an account of this pivotal era when America took its first unsteady steps as a new and rapidly expanding nation. It is the second volume in the Oxford History of the United States series As part of the Oxford History of the United States series the author offers an account of the early American Republic, ranging from 1789 and the beginning of the national government to the end of the War of 1812. As he reveals, the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of American life, in politics, society, economy, and culture. The men who founded the new government had high hopes for the future, but few of their hopes and dreams worked out quite as they expected. They hated political parties but parties nonetheless emerged. Some wanted the United States to become a great fiscal-military state like those of Britain and France; others wanted the country to remain a rural agricultural state very different from the European states. Instead, by 1815 the United States became something neither group anticipated. Many leaders expected American culture to flourish and surpass that of Europe; instead it became popularized and vulgarized. The leaders also hope to see the end of slavery; instead, despite the release of many slaves and the end of slavery in the North, slavery was stronger in 1815 than it had been in 1789. Many wanted to avoid entanglements with Europe, but instead the country became involved in Europe's wars and ended up waging another war with the former mother country. Still, with a new generation emerging by 1815, most Americans were confident and optimistic about the future of their country. This volumes offers an account of this pivotal era when America took its first unsteady steps as a new and rapidly expanding nation. Contents......Page 10 List of Maps......Page 12 Editor’s Introduction......Page 14 Abbreviations Used in Citations......Page 18 Introduction: Rip Van Winkle’s America......Page 24 1. Experiment in Republicanism......Page 28 2. A Monarchical Republic......Page 76 3. The Federalist Program......Page 118 4. The Emergence of the Jeffersonian Republican Party......Page 163 5. The French Revolution in America......Page 197 6. John Adams and the Few and the Many......Page 232 7. The Crisis of 1798–1799......Page 262 8. The Jeffersonian Revolution of 1800......Page 299 9. Republican Society......Page 338 10. The Jeffersonian West......Page 380 11. Law and an Independent Judiciary......Page 423 12. Chief Justice John Marshall and the Origins of Judicial Review......Page 456 13. Republican Reforms......Page 492 14. Between Slavery and Freedom......Page 531 15. The Rising Glory of America......Page 566 16. Republican Religion......Page 599 17. Republican Diplomacy......Page 643 18. The War of 1812......Page 682 19. A World Within Themselves......Page 724 Bibliographical Essay......Page 762 A......Page 776 B......Page 777 C......Page 778 E......Page 781 F......Page 782 G......Page 784 I......Page 785 J......Page 786 L......Page 787 M......Page 788 N......Page 790 P......Page 792 R......Page 794 S......Page 795 T......Page 797 U......Page 798 W......Page 799 Z......Page 801 Integrating All Aspects Of Life, From Politics And Law To The Economy And Culture, Empire Of Liberty Offers A Marvelous Account Of This Pivotal Era When America Took Its First Unsteady Steps As A New And Rapidly Expanding Nation. Introduction: Rip Van Winkle's America -- Experiment In Republicanism -- A Monarchical Republic -- The Federalist Program -- The Emergence Of The Jeffersonian Republican Party -- The French Revolution In America -- John Adams And The Few And The Many -- The Crisis Of 1798-1799 -- The Jeffersonian Revolution Of 1800 -- Republican Society -- The Jeffersonian West -- Law And An Independent Judiciary -- Chief Justice John Marshall And The Origins Of Judicial Review -- Republican Reforms -- Between Slavery And Freedom -- The Rising Glory Of America -- Republican Religion -- Republican Diplomacy -- The War Of 1812 -- A World Within Themselves. Gordon S. Wood. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [739]-752) And Index.