Customer Reviews

Citizen Bachelors: Manhood and the Creation of the United States

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This is honestly one of the best books focusing on colonial masculinity that I've read. The author gives great insight into what life was truly like for the nation's early bachelors. The colonial period is the works primary focus, however later periods are also briefly explored. The author does a great job of examining bachelor laws throughout the colonies, and elucidates how these laws either restricted or enhanced the lives of our early bachelors. While bachelors are the focus of this book, the roles of colonial women are also explored. This book is a must have for anyone interested in masculinity or gender studies.

The author of this book repeatedly uses the word "liminal". I had not previously encountered this word, and I had to quickly find an unabridged dictionary. Having said that, I cannot find one other negative comment to make about this excellent study in early American social history. Most books about the Colonial Era focus on the struggle of the European powers to control North America and on the growing dissatisfaction of the colonists with British rule. Professor McCurdy delves into the lives of average Americans. He not only highlights the high percentage of indentured servants in American society, but also uncovers the fact that the high death rate of the era prevented almost half of this class from ever becoming free men.

The theme of the book is the gradual acceptance by American society that single men were citizens in good standing too. Unfortunately the rights of women were unknown until the 20th century. The traditions of Western Civilization from the time of the Roman Republic had been to include marriage as a requirement for membership in society. The early Colonial governments went even further with criminal penalties and exotic taxes on single men. Professor McCurdy's story of how and why this all changed in America is an exciting one and is based on solid research. The results of this acceptance by society were dramatic. James Madison, while still a single man, would become the "Father of the Constitution". James Buchanan, who never married, would become the 15th President of the United States. Anyone with a serious interest in American social history, the Colonial Era, or in the history of civil rights should include this book on their reading list.

Cultural conservatives will always demand universal marriage no matter what. The story of how and why the majority of Americans came to a better mind about this subject is well worth telling.

I am prejudice about this book, my son wrote it. He does offer a crediable, and insightful view of single men from the early years of the United States and their contribution to the country politicially and socially.