Throes of Democracy: The American Civil War Era, 1829-1877

by Walter A. McDougall

Book Overview

From its shocking curtain-raiser--the conflagration that consumed Lower Manhattan in 1835--to the climactic centennial year of 1876, when Americans staged a corrupt, deadlocked presidential campaign (fought out in Florida), Walter A. McDougall's Throes of Democracy carries the saga of the American people's continuous self-reinvention across five tumultuous decades. From the inauguration of President Andrew Jackson through the eras of Manifest Destiny,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060567538
• ISBN13: 9780060567538
• Release Date: February 2009
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 816 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Outstanding

This is the second volume in Walter McDougall's history of the United States from the beginning of British settlement. I read the first, but it made no impression on me, and I remember little from it. However, I found this volume to be outstanding. McDougall's knowledge of this period in American history is encyclopedic; and he uses his knowledge to create a rounded description and analysis of political, economic, social, literary, and technological developments. By "rounded" I do not mean impartial. McDougall relishes debunking icons, whether they are Emerson and Thoreau (pages 219-22) or Andrew Jackson (pages 68-76). However, McDougall is more interested in conveying (with great success) the excitement and grandeur of American growth and the greatness of the inventors and entrepreneurs who made that growth possible. He fully justifies his assertions (pages xii, 563) that the United States has been "the greatest success story in history" and "the most dynamic nation on earth." I have read a great deal about the history of technology, but it was McDougall's infectious enthusiasm (pages 135-6, 143-5) that made me realize for the first time that the introduction of railroads in the 1830s and the telegraph in the 1840s may have changed the way people lived and thought more thoroughly and more suddenly than any other technological innovations in history. His description of the wonderful contributions of business tycoons is especially important because the characterization of the industrialists of the post-Civil-War era as "robber barons" (from a book published in 1934 with that name) still persists, even though it was refuted long ago. (As ardent a champion of the free market as the Economist magazine recently referred to Andrew Carnegie as a robber baron.) McDougall's summary of Carnegie's and Rockefeller's careers (pages 558-9) is worth quoting: "[L]argely under his [Carnegie's] aegis steel production rose from 20,000 tons in 1867 to more than 1 million tons by 1879 even as the price dropped from $166 to $45 per ton. Steel made railroad tracks stronger and cheaper. Steel ... made possible skyscrapers ... Steel put cheap, superior tools and utensils into everyone's hands.... [T]he question remains whether any other capitalist, much less a socialist commissar, could have built the U.S. steel industry as quickly and as well as Carnegie did." "Like Carnegie, he [Rockefeller] focused on quality standards, cost control, the best science and management, and vertical integration. ... [L]argely under his aegis oil production rose from 8,500 barrels in 1859 to more than 26 million barrels by 1879, while prices declined from $16 per barrel in 1860 to less than $1 by 1879 ... He is lauded for philanthropic donations totalling $540 million. But his greatest gift was oil: for illumination, lubrication, paints, dyes, and all products of organic chemistry from fertilizer to aspirin." McDougall also interspersed his history with fascinating and important fact

MacDougals Throes of Democracy

Wonderfully written, this is the second volume (and stands independently) of an American History series. MacDougal writes so well he makes history accessible to even a casual reader. I think what I found interesting was his insight to Andrew Jackson's populism (good and bad aspects) and distrust of US Banking. As an example, McDougal writes about campaigning: " American democracy was about winning, and the ... had learned through hard experience that the way to win is through comfortable imagery, not uncomfortable ideology." Not much has changed but we do have a better background to understand the present.

Fascinating American Tour in Mid-1800s

I was enthralled by this tour around America during such a critical period of development. McDougall is a respected, decorated academic historian and brings this professional authority to the pages. However, this book is fabulous for amateurs like me, interested in history but not in pursuit of a Ph.D. The myriad of social and cultural elements are what make this a fascinating study. Most history tomes focus on political aspects, as this certainly addresses. But I like reading about things that are less well-known--people, domestic habits, inventions, social things. To name a few in McDougall's book: the invention of photography, women desiring fine china starting in the 1820s, saloons in Chicago, Lincoln wondering what to do with the freed slaves, the age of steel, railroads, pioneer trails to the West, water supply, all the stuff that typical political history books miss. While "Throes of Democracy" is 600 pages with terrific maps, it's a rapid trip, easy to read with lots of juicy stories and details. There are 144 pages of footnotes which I'm sure the academics require, and some of them are enlightening, but I didn't need them. I have read a few of the author's previous books and this is the best one yet.

Dr. McDougall achieved his aim

The first two reviewers of Walter McDougall's masterpiece of prose are sharply divided in their views. My take on this historical romp through the mid 1850's is that McDougall was looking to pick an argument with each and every one of his readers. There is something here for each of us to cherish and to question. First, McDougall's biting wit and scathing comments on the people and events of the day make page-turning reading. He treats monumental and small events with the same degree of scrutiny. He has made me reconsider some of my views on the mid 19th century. I am currently gathering materials for a book on a very narrow topic of the Civil War period. I hope I can tell my story with just a smidgen of the insight that he has used to tell his. Dr. McDougall, thanks for making me reconsider my approach to historical writing. At its best, history is challenging and fun. You make it fun. I encourage anyone who hated history in high school to read this book. You will be pleasantly surprised, and most likely will order volume 1 of the series. I can't wait until the next installment.

Wow!

Publisher's Weekly gives this book a rather sour-faced, snide and sneering review, because there isn't all that much in it about blacks, Indians and women. Or, as thy would have it, in their near-hysteric wishy-washy political correctness: African Americans, Native Americans and Americans-without-a-[...]! First of all: their namby-pamby PC views are annoying, don't foist them on me!!! I'll reach my own conclusions about this book!!! Second: they are downright wrong: there is more than enough in this book about blacks, Indians and women! The life of slaves, of freedmen, ther Trail of Tears, Dorothea Dix, Harriet Beecher Stowe: it and they are all treated in this bookof Slavery. That probably is not as much as you whining democrats would have liked, but that's your problem. Mr. McDougall stated he wished to write a history of the USA according to his own view and beliefs and he has done just that. He has done so magnificently. His well-crafted prose is a joy to read, the writing in this book is really excellent. The history is top-knotch too: Mr. McDougall and he offers some surprising insights and interpretations. His 15 pages on Lincoln and his chapter on the Civil War are some of the best and original concise treatments of the subject matter I have ever come across!! These parts alone more than justify buying and reading this book. A very good book, very good indeed! higly recommended! Mr. McDougall: I just ordered the prequel and am eagerly awaiting the next volume. Keep it up!