Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

"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.

I liked this book better than The Light And The Glory. It is true, and must be admitted by those who look at history objrctively, that the Christian religion has had an enormous impact on the course of events in the United States . . . much more so than secular historians would have us believe. My favorite part was the minute account of the Second Great Awakening - particuarly the revival meetings in Kentucky. But these books, in and of themselves, are not going to give an individual a balenced view of U.S. history. It is just too biased. The authors have attempted to put a religous construction on all key events, and on all key men behind those events. Too much gloss. But you won't regret reading it. It's good reading, and I learned a lot from it.

I read the first installment in this trilogy -- The Light and the Glory -- and enjoyed it so much that I purchased both of the sequels. Thankfully this second installment of Peter Marshall's and David Manuel's interpretation of American history did not disappoint. Indeed I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first book.

From Sea to Shining Sea covers roughly 50 years of American history - from 1787 to approximately 1837. This was a turbulent time, with the new nation going through many "growing pains." The book touches on some of the most famous -- and infamous -- incidents in American history: the Constitutional Convention; the War of 1812; the Lewis and Clark expedition; the Alamo; the Donner party; the Louisiana Purchase; the Trail of Tears. It also covered some lesser-known (at least to me) incidents such as the Methodist circuit-riding preachers in the new western territories, the revivals that occurred in Kentucky and Tennessee and then in New England, some of the early Supreme Court decisions that shaped our judicial branch of government, and the depression of 1819 (in many ways more devastating that the Great Depression that would come 110 years later). The authors shine their spotlight less on the "superstars" of history, than on some of the perhaps lesser-known players who nonetheless played key roles during this era, such as John Quincy Adams and John Marshall.

These 50 years were a time when America, fresh from the Revolutionary War and the burst of unification that had enabled them to defeat the British, plunged all too quickly back into a regionalism and factionalism that became deeper than ever before. The authors probe the issues that were brewing during this time and that would inevitably lead to the Civil War: not just the moral and societal cause of slavery (more on that below) but also the economic causes brought about largely by the Protective Tariff (which I haven't heard discussed or read about since my junior-year history class in high school!).

But weaving all though this book from beginning to end is the issue of slavery; it is inescapable, really, since it was such a deeply-rooted poison in American culture (the effects of which we are still dealing with even today). The authors give an excellent treatment of slavery that is thoughtful and thorough. They begin with the very first shipload of 20 blacks who landed in Virginia in 1619, and describe how attitudes towards slavery shifted over time and from region to region. They show the particular conditions that enabled slavery to become such an entrenched part of Southern society. But most importantly, they show the effects of slavery on white Southerners; this is an angle that is rarely if ever discussed anymore. Because the authors approach it from a Biblical perspective, they are able to illustrate just how corrosive slavery was to the psyche of the white slave owners; it fostered and fed the sinful and exploitative nature that we are all born with. No mainstream historian today would probably even believe that, much less write it in a book, given the prevailing humanistic (and anti-Biblical) mindset nowadays that says mankind is innately good.

The authors also discuss the religion of the slaves and their strong and widespread adoption of Christianity; indeed, they propose that it was the slaves' deep faith in Jesus, while suffering such physical persecution, that likely kept America's tenuous hold on God's grace during this turbulent time. All in all, it was the most thought-provoking, balanced and thorough treatments of the whole slavery issue -- both North and South -- that I have ever read.

For anyone who has an interest in American history, and who also believes in the absolute sovereignty of God and of His Word (the Bible) I highly recommend this book. It is a keeper that I will doubtless read again someday.

I purchased this book because it is the second in a set of three books. I have purchased all three in the set. I can't say enough about the book and the author, Peter Marshall. Peter Marshall has researched American History extenstively and reveals all the things that are being deliberately taught in schools and colleges that is INCORRECT regarding our Hertiage. This is a MUST READ for every American. If you are in College or have children in school, this is a MUST READ. You will see our Judeo-Christian Hertiage. You will learn the TRUTH ABOUT AMERICA'S FOUNDING AND OUR FOUNDING FATHERS. This book isn't one man's opinion. Peter Marshall has verified all of his research. Please purchase this book if you love America and want to see freedom continue.

Second in a Great series. Very easy reading ~ should be required reading for highschoolers so they get another view besides just small straight forward facts. Great prices and shipping too!

Just as they did in "The Light And The Glory" the authors summarize so many interesting events during this period in our nation. We can be proud to be citizens of the United States and pray God will continue to intervene in our affairs so His glory will continue to shine "from sea to shining sea". Also, it helped me see how the same temptations as today (mainly a large, controlling federal government) were present back then and our nation overcame them by God calling forth some unlikely men and women. Hopefully if they did it then, we can find a way to overcome today.

Like my review of Marshall and Manuel's earlier book "The Light and the Glory", I admire the clarity of the authors' thesis, and the forthright way with which they attempt to demonstrate that thesis.

Unfortunately, to accept their thesis, one must adhere to a very particular view of philosophy, theology and history -- a view held largely by Calvinist Christians. Thus, other Protestants, as well as Catholics (to say nothing of members of other religions) will find some of the authors' presuppositions very difficult to accept.

The greatest use for this book would be to be used in conjunction with another text written from a different perspective.

God bless the authors of this book! As history has shown...

"Those who will not remember the mistakes of the past, are doomed to repeat them." - George Santayana (aphorism)

As our nation is fast falling so far from what was once blessed upon her, please consider studying the facts and find out for yourselves that God's Hand is not finished working upon this nation that He founded.

Google: fifty states preambles

To deny that the United States of America is founded as a Christian nation under God, is to hide from truth in willful ignorance.

"Heroism in defense of willful ignorance, is perhaps the most tragic form of cowardice."

And remember, "Those who will not stand for something, will usually fall for anything."

Marshall & Manuel are to be commended for what has proven to be a blessed undertaking in the form of this book!

Blessings in Yeshua, Jesus Christ be upon you dear readers,


MR