Reviews for The Shaping of America
Review - Shaping of America, The
I read Smith’s first two volumes several years ago and enjoyed them. They’re the closest thing I’ve found to Shelby Foote on the Revolutionary War. I’ve wanted to continue reading the series but was somewhat put off by the length. Then I had a thought — “I’ll just read one volume at a time!”
Anyway, the book is excellent. It covers the years from 1783 (the end of the war) to 1826 (when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson die). Smith talks about politics, trade, culture — and a bunch of other stuff and keeps it from getting boring. He never stays too long on any subject and varies his method of writing. For example, in a chapter on life on and along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, he uses the diary of an Englishman who took a voyage along both rivers.
The books greatest strength, in my opinion, is Smith’s frequent and convincing emphasis on the competing philosophies that formed America. On one had, the Federalists (George Washington, John Adams) had a classical/Christian consciousness that believed in original sin. This played out in a desire for a strong government. On the other hand, the Democrats (Thomas Jefferson) had a democratic/enlightenment consciousness that led them to believe man could perfect himself. They thought “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”
The competing views played out in every aspect of the new country — whether you favored England or France, whether you preferred agriculture or industry, whether you thought the Federal government should be superior or inferior to the state governments. The Federalists didn’t last long — they were pretty much gone after John Adams, but their influence lasted because of two things: the Constitution itself (which was largely their work) and John Marshall as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
What amused me was the way Jefferson and his minions totally changed their philosophy as soon as they achieved power. They became total hypocrites and started pressing for more power for the Federal government. Of course the few remaining Federalists switched too to try to keep power from Jefferson who they thought was evil. (An opinion that I agree with). Page Smith isn’t a big fan of Jefferson’s either.
Smith also covers religion in two chapters and, while I don’t think he’s a believer, he gives a balanced view.
To those of you who are reading biographies of the Presidents, I would recommend you read this series also to give yourself a refresher course and a little wider view than some of the biographies give.
Thank you, and good night.
Anyway, the book is excellent. It covers the years from 1783 (the end of the war) to 1826 (when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson die). Smith talks about politics, trade, culture — and a bunch of other stuff and keeps it from getting boring. He never stays too long on any subject and varies his method of writing. For example, in a chapter on life on and along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, he uses the diary of an Englishman who took a voyage along both rivers.
The books greatest strength, in my opinion, is Smith’s frequent and convincing emphasis on the competing philosophies that formed America. On one had, the Federalists (George Washington, John Adams) had a classical/Christian consciousness that believed in original sin. This played out in a desire for a strong government. On the other hand, the Democrats (Thomas Jefferson) had a democratic/enlightenment consciousness that led them to believe man could perfect himself. They thought “the voice of the people is the voice of God.”
The competing views played out in every aspect of the new country — whether you favored England or France, whether you preferred agriculture or industry, whether you thought the Federal government should be superior or inferior to the state governments. The Federalists didn’t last long — they were pretty much gone after John Adams, but their influence lasted because of two things: the Constitution itself (which was largely their work) and John Marshall as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
What amused me was the way Jefferson and his minions totally changed their philosophy as soon as they achieved power. They became total hypocrites and started pressing for more power for the Federal government. Of course the few remaining Federalists switched too to try to keep power from Jefferson who they thought was evil. (An opinion that I agree with). Page Smith isn’t a big fan of Jefferson’s either.
Smith also covers religion in two chapters and, while I don’t think he’s a believer, he gives a balanced view.
To those of you who are reading biographies of the Presidents, I would recommend you read this series also to give yourself a refresher course and a little wider view than some of the biographies give.
Thank you, and good night.
Reviewed by Roger on 2004-01-11 20:29:29