From Sea to Shining Sea: 1787-1837 (God's Plan for America) [Paperback]

Peter, Marshall (Author), David, Manuel (Author)

Book Description

Series: God's Plan for America | Publication Date: August 1989

In From Sea to Shining Sea history buffs are transported back to the post-revolutionary era to discover how God intervened on behalf of a struggling nation. This fast-paced, absorbing narrative and sequel to the bestselling The Light and the Glory covers that fragile time in America's history from 1787 to 1837 when a newborn nation faced challenges and overcame her growing pains by clinging to her Christian heritage.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From Sea to Shining Sea serves several good purposes. Marshall and Manuel develop the scriptural thesis that God has a plan for the nation. They bring out aspects of American history usually neglected by historians with a more secular orientation and reveal the vital difference a Christian can make in the history of a nation. And last but not least, they know how to tell a good story. -- Moody Monthly

A marvelous sequel to the best-selling The Light and the Glory.... The authors clearly express from history how God intervened on behalf of America, and how God used men to shape the political and moral foundations that have made America great. Truly a wonderful piece of work. -- Target --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Does God really bless a nation that honors Him?


After the Revolutionary War, our newborn country went through an exciting era of growth and innovation. Was God intervening on behalf of the struggling nation? In this fast-paced sequel to the bestselling The Light and the Glory, you'll learn how America's future was threatened by greed, pride, and self-righteousness. You'll also see how, in the midst of turmoil, God raised up leaders to shape our unique country and character.

Newly revised, From Sea to Shining Sea is the riveting story of a country moving forward--but always with an eye on the Christian heritage of the past.


Peter Marshall is a nationally recognized speaker on Christian growth and maturity and on America's Christian heritage. A graduate of Yale University and Princeton Theological Seminary, he lives in Massachusetts.

David Manuel is the author or coauthor of several books, including Like a Mighty River and The Jesus Factor. He is a graduate of Yale University and lives in Massachusetts. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Revell (August 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800753089
• ISBN-13: 978-0800753085
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,003,058 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and Informative, July 18, 2000

By 

Steven A. Bell "Even Keel" (Kemp, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: From Sea to Shining Sea: 1787-1837 (God's Plan for America) (Paperback)

Having read "The Light and the Glory" I was interested in their next in what has proved to be a nicely laid out on-going series. This installment carries on from where the first left off. Starting with the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and moving through to 1830 the authors spend a considerable amount of time on a much shorter piece of American history (the first book covered over 300 years). Again the authors concentrate on re-introducing the reader to history that has been recently omitted from our now politically correct historical texts. The authors take details from newspapers, books, diaries and other material of the times and weave a story of Christianity and how the founders wove it into the fabric of the early United States government. The authors once again introduce a drawback by adding personal conjecture and subjective comment (nullifying the book as a true historical text). However, this does not detract from this book being entertaining and informative reading. I especially enjoyed the bin on Thomas Jefferson as a Deist and his personal agenda upon becomming President. In addition I found the diary information from both sided in the War of 1812 to be fascinating. I also was left with a much greater appreciation of how God moved in the early days of the United States. Well worth the purchase price.

31 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars U.S. History from a decidedly Christian perspective., July 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: From Sea to Shining Sea: 1787-1837 (God's Plan for America) (Paperback)

A well researched history of the United States of America from the revolution to the Civil War. Delivered in a narative form, the authors make history come alive. They manage to put flesh and blood on the men and women of our "manifest destiny." Read how America and americans were shaped by their deep rooted belief in the God of the Bible. The circuit riding minister and the pulpit bound preacher were instrumental in the development of the character of our nation. This rates as a "page turner" which the avid history buff and the casual student will both find difficult to put down.

37 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Parents, look first. . ., August 14, 2002

By 

Concerned Parent (Rustbelt) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Sea to Shining Sea: 1787-1837 (God's Plan for America) (Paperback)

"The Light and the Glory" is a beautifully written, well-researched book -- which I cannot recommend, especially as a primary homeschooling text, without serious caveats.

The positives: The authors, Peter Marshall and David Manuel have done enormous research. They have demonstrated that what is taught in the typical history book doesn't necessarily tell the entire story. They have acknowledged the role of faith, and religion have played in our nation's early history. They have the gift of making characters "come alive" in a way that would interest a student -- even one who didn't care much for history.

HOWEVER: The authors have a fixed thesis firmly in mind and head toward that thesis without swerving -- and that thesis is one with which even most persons of faith would struggle. The thesis? A staunch Calvinist view of the role of America in the mind of God. As a believer -- who is adamantly NOT a Calvinist -- I cannot accept the particular (and peculiar) methods of exegesis which somehow create America as the new "Promised Land". Neither can most other Christians.

I'm also a bit concerned that the authors attempt (on the one hand) to analyze the state of the soul of Andrew Jackson (no "benefit of the doubt there!") while labeling John Quincy Adams -- a member of the Unitarians -- as "the last Puritan".

I fear that in their struggle to demonstrate their thesis, certain elements are glossed over; certain facts are whitewashed, etc. While it could certainly be argued that Calvinism played a major role in the establishment of the Colonies and in early America, it can also be argued that such did not have the salutory benefits which the authors suggest are there.

My advice to homeschooling parents, especially those who are not Calvinists, is to use this book with care, as a secondary source -- or not at all. The presentation given is far too biased to be reliable.

A very cautious three stars.