Arguments over what democracy actually meant in practice and how it should be implemented raged throughout the early American republic. As Andrew Shankman shows; nowhere were those ideas more intensely contested or more representative of the national debate than in Pennsylvania; where the state’s Jeffersonians dominated the day.Pennsylvania Jeffersonians were the first American citizens to attempt to translate idealized speculations about democracy into a workable system of politics and governance. In doing so; they revealed key assumptions that united other national citizens regarding democracy and the conditions necessary for its survival. In particular; they assumed that democracy required economic autonomy and a strong measure of economic as well as political equality among citizens. This strong egalitarian theme was; however; challenged by Pennsylvania’s precociously capitalistic economy and the nation’s dynamic economic development in general; forcing the Jeffersonians to confront the reality that economic and social equality would have to take a back seat to free market forces.Seeking democracy became a debate about the desirability of capitalism and the precise relations between majority rule and the pursuit and protection of individual rights and interests. From this struggle to fuse egalitarianism and free enterprise in Pennsylvania emerged most subsequent mainstream beliefs concerning the respective roles of democracy and capitalism in American society. In fact; it did much to shape the boundaries of permissible thought in the Jacksonian era concerning political economy and the extent of popular democratic power.Shankman’s illuminating exploration of the Pennsylvania experience reveals how democracy arose in America; how it came to accommodate capitalism; and at the same time forced egalitarian assumptions and dreams to the margins of society. A resonant work of intellectual and political history; his study also mirrors the aspirations; fears; hatreds; dreams; generous impulses; noble strivings; selfish cant; and enormous capacity to imagine of those who first tried to translate the blueprint for democracy into a tested foundation for the nation’s future.
#1905247 in Books University Press of Kansas 1992-05-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.99 x 2.25 x 6.10l; 1.17 #File Name: 0700606815400 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Real HistoryBy Sonny HandAs a historian since 1960; and published; I have learned that so much of what is taught as "real history" has been skewed by the opinions of people who think they know what happened. We couldn't possibly know unless we were "There." This book was written by Wilbur Fisk from diaries that he kept during his service in the 2nd Vermont Infantry; during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. His candid accounts of everyday life; as well as some of the "popular myths" that he deals with; make this book an absolute read for any Civil War student. These are the only sources that should be referred to as "history." You can't alter history; regardless of how distasteful it may be to some. You can only study it. As such; this is one of the finest accounts that I have read.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A must-read for serious students of the American Civil WarBy Peter F.Too often; the history of war is told by the generals. Fisk's letters provide fascinating details of what everyday life was like for the average grunt soldiers. And yet; for a grunt soldier with little formal education; Fisk was an incredibly talented and clever writer. There is a wide range of emotion in these letters -- as the war drags on; a young man's bravado and gung-ho patriotism become tempered with fear; exhaustion; sadness; boredom; regret; and more. But Fisk still manages to season it all with an ample flow of dry Yankee wit.This is not just a book for academic study. This is a flat-out good read.Disclosure: The author was my great-granduncle.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An incredible account of what it was like on the front linesBy MBAn incredible account of what it was like on the front lines. Fisk's writing is simply beautiful on top of that; I'm not ashamed to say it made me choke up reading it a couple times. He holds nothing back about his thoughts on the war; and what is going on in his heart and mind. I was so glad to have come upon this memoir and I would say it is a "must read" for any student of the Civil War. Enjoy!
