Providence and the Invention of the United States, 1607–1876Nicholas Guyatt offers a completely new understanding of a central question in American history: how did Americans come to think that God favored the United States above other nations? Tracing the story of American providentialism, this book uncovers the British roots of American religious nationalism before the American Revolution and the extraordinary struggles of white Americans to reconcile their ideas of national mission with the racial diversity of the early republic. Making sense of previously diffuse debates on manifest destiny, millenarianism, and American mission, Providence and the Invention of the United States explains the origins and development of the idea that God has a special plan for America. This conviction supplied the United States with a powerful sense of national purpose, but it also prevented Americans from clearly understanding events and people that could not easily be fitted into the providential scheme. |
Contents
11 | |
The Origins of Providential Separatism | 53 |
Providentialism and | 95 |
The Limits of Revolutionary | 137 |
Race and Removal in the Early Republic | 173 |
Removal | 194 |
The Providential Meanings of American | 214 |
That Great Idea of National Continuity | 256 |
William Lloyd Garrisons Complaint | 299 |
Index | 327 |
Other editions - View all
Providence and the Invention of the United States, 1607-1876 Nicholas Guyatt No preview available - 2007 |
Providence and the Invention of the United States, 1607-1876 Nicholas Guyatt No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
abolitionists African American American history appeared argued argument audience blacks Boston Britain British Britons Cambridge cause century Christian Church Civil claims colonists colonization continued debate Delivered destiny divine early efforts emancipation empire England English entire Europe example favor February Federalists first forced France French future Garrison George God’s Haven historical providentialism hope House human idea important independence Indians insisted interpretation James January John July Lincoln London looked Magazine manifest March Massachusetts means minister mission nation Native North northern noted observers offered Oration Patriot perhaps period political Preached present progressive promised Providence Puritan question race racial religious removal Republicans Review rhetoric Richard role scheme seemed Senate Sermon slavery slaves Smith Society South southern success suggested thinking Thomas understanding Union United University Press Virginia vision Washington Winthrop York