The rise of American democracy : Jefferson to Lincoln

Label

The rise of American democracy : Jefferson to Lincoln

Title remainder

Jefferson to Lincoln

Statement of responsibility

Sean Wilentz

Creator

• Wilentz, Sean

Subject

• Politicians -- United States -- History -- 19th century
• Presidents -- United States -- History -- 18th century
• Democracy -- United States -- History -- 19th century
• Democracy -- United States -- History -- 18th century
• Politicians -- United States -- History -- 18th century
• Presidents -- United States -- History -- 19th century
• United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865

Language

eng

Summary

Political historian Wilentz traces an arc from the earliest days of the Republic to the opening shots of the Civil War, showing how the elitist young American republic became a rough-and-tumble democracy. He brings to life the era after the American Revolution, when the idea of democracy remained contentious, and Jeffersonians and Federalists clashed over the role of ordinary citizens in government of, by, and for the people. The triumph of Andrew Jackson soon defined this role on the national level, while city democrats, Anti-Masons, fugitive slaves, and a host of others hewed their own local definitions. In these definitions Wilentz recovers the beginnings of a discontent--two starkly opposed democracies, one in the North and another in the South--and the wary balance that lasted until the election of Abraham Lincoln sparked its bloody resolution.--From publisher description

Biography type

contains biographical information

Cataloging source

DLC

Illustrations

• illustrations
• maps
• portraits
• plates

Index

index present

LC call number

E302.1

LC item number

.W55 2005

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography