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Sean Wilentz

The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln Paperback – Illustrated, September 17, 2006

by Sean Wilentz (Author)

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Winner of the Bancroft Award: "Monumental…a tour de force…awesome in its coverage of political events."―Gordon Wood, New York Times Book Review

Acclaimed as the definitive study of the period by one of the greatest American historians, The Rise of American Democracy traces a historical arc from the earliest days of the republic to the opening shots of the Civil War. Ferocious clashes among the Founders over the role of ordinary citizens in a government of "we, the people" were eventually resolved in the triumph of Andrew Jackson. Thereafter, Sean Wilentz shows, a fateful division arose between two starkly opposed democracies―a division contained until the election of Abraham Lincoln sparked its bloody resolution. Winner of the Bancroft Award, shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize, finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, a New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2005 and best book of New York magazine and The Economist.

Print length

1104 pages
Language

English
Publisher

W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date

September 17, 2006
Dimensions

6.2 x 1.7 x 9.2 inches
ISBN-10

0393329216
ISBN-13

978-0393329216
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Remarkable . . . a book that befits its subject in artistry as well as scale."
― Steven Hahn, Chicago Tribune

"Confirms Sean Wilentz as the Richard Hofstadter of our day―the supreme political historian."
― Franklin Foer, New York

"A magisterial synthesis that deserves the attention of anyone interested in the American past."
― Eric Foner, The Nation

About the Author

Sean Wilentz is the George Henry Davis 1886 Professor of American History at Princeton University and author of the Bancroft Prize–winning The Rise of American Democracy, Bob Dylan in America, and many other works. He is completing his next book, No Property in Man, on slavery, antislavery, and the Constitution, based on his Nathan I. Huggins Lectures delivered at Harvard in 2015.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Illustrated edition (September 17, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1104 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393329216
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393329216
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.68 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 1.7 x 9.2 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #271,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #471 in Democracy (Books)
- #947 in Deals in Books
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JB

Democracy Dies From a Thousand Cuts

Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2019

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Wilentz’s 2005 tour de force is more important today than when it was published. As the Republic bleeds out due to decades of neglect, we watch first hand how Trump’s Kleptocracy is attempting to deliver the coup de grace by gutting it.

“Democracy is never a gift bestowed by benevolent, farseeing rulers who seek to reinforce their own legitimacy. It must always be fought for, by political coalitions that cut across distinctions of wealth, power and interest. It succeeds and survives only when it is rooted in the lives and expectations of its citizens, and continually reinvigorated in each generation. Democratic successes are never irreversible (xix).”

13 people found this helpful

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J B Dean, Berkeley, CA

Why only in hard copy?

Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020

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My only complaint about the book is that it is not available as an eBook,. I’ve split it in half down the spine but it is still very heavy for carrying around. Furthermore, my old and ailing eyes find the adjustable print size of electronic books considerably friendlier. I persevere nevertheless; it is well worth the trouble.

2 people found this helpful

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CJA

Definitive history of the antebellum era

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2007

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This is the definitive history of the critical formative period in American history in which the nation moved from its aristocratic and republican roots to more of a pure democracy. The great irony is that during this same time the South became more and more invested in its hierarchical society based on slave power.

Wilentz tells the story forcefully and meticulously. He also tells it with some flair. The sketches of Clay, Jackson, Van Buren, Webster, Calhoun, and Polk are particularly compelling and interesting. You will have to be patient with the long wind-up that sets the background of the book and brings the reader up to the War of 1812. Once you get to the War of 1812, the book takes off, and the characters that pepper the history of this period come to life.

Although the flyleaf compares Wilentz to Hofstadter, Wilentz lacks Hofstadter's interpretive flair and breadth of vision. He sticks to his narrative and to a handful and relatively simple but important themes. Also, Wilentz is not quite the narrative historian that David Potter and James McPherson are. Potter's "The Impending Crisis" is still the great history of the immediate antebellum era (1848-61) and James McPherson's "Battle Cry of Freedom", which also runs from 1848 but through the end of the Civil War, is also a leading work of the period. Wilentz, however, ties the period into the context of the first half of the 18th century. His contribution in that regard is invaluable.

Stick with this book despite its slow beginning and great length. It's definitely worth the effort.

13 people found this helpful

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Superb and Detailed Survey of American Political Life from Jefferson to Lincoln

Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2006

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The Rise of American Democracy will, hopefully, raise interest in the relatively neglected period from the inauguration of Jefferson to the election of Lincoln in 1860.

Wilentz is a scholar who also knows how to write in an understandable way in which the reader can digest what he is saying.

The book is divided into three parts dealing with Jeffersonian Democracy; the rise of the Jacksonian era and in the final tragic section the slow descent into the hell of Civil War.

Slavery was a curse on the American political scene destroying the Whig Party and leading to the death of over 600.000 young

Americans.

The book deals in detail with all the presidential adminstrations in the period. Such fascinating politicians as

John and John Quincy Adams, the great senators Henry Clay, John

C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster and great leaders in the antislavery cause such as William Lloyd Garrison, the half black

Frederick Douglass and Hnery Ward Beecher stride across the many pages in this tome.Wilentz discusses literary works such as Moby Dick and Uncle Tom's Cabin and how they were influenced by the inflammatory events ensuing

from the Truce of 1850.

It is all here! The Missouri Compromise, Dred Scott Decision,

Wars of 1812 and the Mexican War; the clash between urban labor

movements and aristocracy; the story behind the admission of states to the Union and complex discussions of the Bank of the

United States and economic concerns.

This is a classic text which is the sine qua non for the period. It is sure to become a standard work in courses on American history. The book does asssume some basic understanding of American history; demands concentration and is often a challenge to read. The mysteries of economics is still beyond my liberal arts mind!

Wilentz has marshalled all of the skills he possesses as an astutely brilliant historian. This book won the Bancroft Prize for History and will be used by this reviewer several times in

the future.

A very long book of almost 900 small print pages but a great

way to understand our past. Excellent!

9 people found this helpful

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Robert S. Smith

A must read for history buffs interested in 1790 through 1860 national political history.

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2015

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Outstanding detailed survey of the evolution of democratic opposition politics from the democratic republican committees during the Washington and John Adams administrations to the formation of anti federalist Republican Party of the Jefferson and Madison administrations and through the strong populis president of the people during the Jackson administration (that!s as far as I have gotten so far.
It is helpful if the reader is very familiar of the biographies of the presents before taking on this scholarly adventure.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

L. A. Graham

So far this book is excellent and would highly recommend it if you are interested in US democracy.

Reviewed in Australia on February 22, 2021

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I have only just started reading this book but so far it is very good. A nice concise view of democracy at work.

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