This updated; revised edition of the important 1988 work examines the complex relationship between American ideals and increasing religious diversity. Since publication of the first edition; American religion has become more pluralistic and the central dynamic of welcoming vs. rejecting religious diversity is even more prominent and nuanced. Explored here are two competing visions of the American Dream as it relates to religion: America as a pluralistic society shaped by its diversity; and America as an assimilative society in which people of all backgrounds become "American."
#4670589 in Books McFarland 2004-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.98 x .66 x 6.02l; .86 #File Name: 0786419466269 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating overviewBy JKJI expected to give this book a quick skim but once I started reading; I couldn't put it down. This is a year-by-year overview of abolitionist activity and the response by Southerners and their Northern sympathizers. Each of the ten years receives a chapter discussing significant abolitionist events during that year; including activity in Congress; with extensive quotations from John Quincy Adams; John C. Calhoun and others. Naturally the book can't go into depth on too many issues; but the author does elaborate on selected events and issues.As the abolitionists gradually educated Northerners about the abuses of slavery; the South could no longer claim that slavery was benign. Losing control of the moral argument--it was; after all; an issue of basic human rights--the South began claiming it was a matter of states' rights instead. Southern politicians grew increasingly virulent against anyone who opposed them; at least in the beginning; they had plenty of support in the north. Abolitionists were threatened; murdered; their meeting places burnt down. Watching politicians today; and how willing they are to lie; distort and obfuscate; makes it clear that little in human nature has changed.Of note is the role Rep. John Quincy Adams; the former president; played in forcing Congress to acknowledge the thousands of petitions against slavery sent there by the American people. Since the Revolution; the South had controlled the dialogue; and they weren't about to give up control easily.Slightly marring the book are occasional punctuation errors and typos; but that's just an English major being fussy.I picked up this book because I had just finished From Midnight to Dawn; which I also highly recommend. From Midnight to Dawn: The Last Tracks of the Underground Railroad0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Like attending a live lecture series on the topicBy Michael RaffertyI found Abolitionist Decade very scholarly; well reasoned; and presented with great passion for the subject. Because of the expert way the author orginized the topic in a year by year analysis there was a sense throughout that I was attending a lecture series. For the first time; I go a really good sense of what the period was like.
