What Hath God Wrought
Read What Hath God Wrought Online
Authors: Daniel Walker Howe
Tags: #History, #United States, #19th Century, #Americas (North; Central; South; West Indies), #Modern, #General, #Religion
David M. Kennedy,
General Editor
ROBERT MIDDLEKAUFF
THE GLORIOUS CAUSE
The American Revolution, 1763–1789
DANIEL WALKER HOWE
WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT
The Transformation of America, 1815–1848
JAMES M. MCPHERSON
BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM
The Civil War Era
DAVID M. KENNEDY
FREEDOM FROM FEAR
The American People in Depression and War, 1929–1945
JAMES T. PATTERSON
GRAND EXPECTATIONS
The United States, 1945–1974
JAMES T. PATTERSON
RESTLESS GIANT
The United States from Watergate to
Bush v. Gore
The Transformation of America, 1815–1848
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Howe, Daniel Walker.
What hath God wrought: the transformation of America, 1815–1848/Daniel Walker Howe.p. cm. — (Oxford history of the United States)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN: 978-0-19-507894-7
1. United States—History—1815–1861.
2. United States—Foreign relations—1815—1861.
3. United States—Politics and government—1815–1861.
4. United States—Economic conditions—To 1865.
5. Social change—United States—History—19th century. I. Title.
E338.H69 2007 973.5—dc22 2007012370
To the Memory of
John Quincy Adams
Whatever the heats of party may be, however the tone of disappointment against Mr. Adams may sometimes rise to something too like hatred, there is undoubtedly a deep reverence and affection for the man in the nation’s heart; and any one may safely prophesy that his reputation, half a century after his death, will be of a very honourable kind. He fought a stout and noble battle in Congress last session in favour of discussion of the slavery question, and in defence of the right of petition upon it; on behalf of women as well as of men. While hunted, held at bay, almost torn to pieces by an outrageous majority—leaving him, I believe, in absolute unity—he preserved a boldness and coolness as amusing as they were admirable. Though he now and then vents his spleen with violence when disappointed in a favourite object, he seems able to bear perfectly well that which it is the great fault of Americans to shrink from, singularity and blame. He seems, at times, reckless of opinion; and this is the point of his character which his countrymen seem, naturally, least able to comprehend.
—Harriet Martineau, Retrospect of Western Travel, 1838
This book has been a long time in the making, and many people have helped make it. I should like to thank Peter Ginna, Susan Ferber, Joellyn Ausanka, the late Sheldon Meyer, and the late C. Vann Woodward for their confidence and wise counsel.
David Kennedy, editor-in-chief of the Oxford History of the United States, read my drafts with patience, care, and insight. James McPherson, Daniel Feller, and Richard R. John each read the whole long manuscript, made valuable comments, and saved me from many a mistake. Professor John’s unequaled knowledge of the communications revolution proved indispensable. A number of scholars gave generously of their expertise on particular subjects: Joyce Appleby, Gabor Boritt, Michael Holt, Naomi Lamoreaux, Mark Neely, Barbara Packer, William Pencak, Donald Ratcliffe, Timothy Roberts, Kathryn Kish Sklar, Conrad Wright the younger, and John Yoo. Of course, I am responsible for whatever faults may remain—all the more so because I did not always follow advice received.
Research grants supporting the work that made this book possible came from Oxford University’s Rothermere American Institute, the Academic Senate of the University of California at Los Angeles, the Institute for the Advanced Study of Religion at Yale University, the Bellagio Study Center of the Rockefeller Foundation, and the R. Stanton Avery Distinguished Fellowship of the Huntington Library. The continued hospitality of the Huntington and the graciousness of its staff have provided an ideal environment for research and writing. For a happy decade I enjoyed the company and intellectual stimulation of the Master and Fellows of St. Catherine’s College, Oxford. A series of talented research assistants over the years have included Martin Meenagh and Rebecca Webb at Oxford; Julia Ott at Yale; and Michael Bottoms, Michael Hawkins, Rebecca Hood, Susan Kim, Anne Lescoulie, and Richard Lester at UCLA. Freddie LaFemina assisted at a critical juncture. India Cooper is the ideal copy editor.
Sandra Shumway Howe and Stephen Walker Howe read the manuscript chapter by chapter as I wrote it, and offered both comments and encouragement over the long haul.
D.W.H.
March 2007