The Radicalism of the American Revolution | Gordon S. Wood

The Radicalism of the American Revolution | Gordon S. Wood | Compellng, Conversational Antithesis to Pauline Maier

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	The Radicalism of the American Revolution Gordon S. Wood Vintage, 1993 - 464 pages average customer review:based on 49 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Stunning Analysis of the Intellectual Underpinnings of the American Revolution

I first read the work of Gordon Wood in graduate school a quarter century ago, especially his magnificent and massive 1972 book, "The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787." This study, "The Radicalism of the American Revolution," is essentially a continuation of that earlier work, probing the intellectual underpinnings of the era. It, too, is a magnificent work and fully deserving of the Pulitzer Prize that it received. While covering some of the same ground as Bernard Bailyn's "The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution" (Harvard University Press, 1967), this book develops a more detailed, rigorous, and compelling portrait of a society transforming itself from one of feudal relationships to one predicated on republicanism, democracy, and market-driven capitalism.

At a fundamental level, Wood argues, the American Revolution was truly a radical episode in world history. He comments that "The republican revolution was the greatest utopian movement in American history. The revolutionaries aimed at nothing less than a reconstitution of American society. They hoped to destroy the bonds holding together the older monarchical society--kinship, patriarchy, and patronage--and to put in their place new social bonds of love, respect, and consent. They sought to construct a society and governments based on virtue and disinterested public leadership and to set in motion a moral government that would eventually be felt around the globe" (p. 229). They advocated ensuring equality as the first task of society; Wood calls this "the single most powerful and radical ideological force in all of American history" (p. 234). And all Americans, he argues, embraced the idea of equality as manifested in labor and accomplishment. He notes, "Perhaps nothing separated early-nineteenth-century Americans more from Europeans than their attitude toward labor and their egalitarian sense that everyone must participate in it" (p. 286).

Wood closes "The Radicalism of the American Revolution" with this, "No doubt the cost that America paid for this democracy was high--with its vulgarity, its materialism, its rootlessness, its anti-intellectualism. But there is no denying the wonder of it and the real earthly benefits it brought to the hitherto neglected and despised masses of common laboring people. The American Revolution created this democracy, and we are living with its consequences still" (p. 269).

Above all, Wood argues that ideas and ideological issues matter in the context of American history. Self-interest is very real, but ideas and ideals serve as powerful motivations for actions. This is a stunningly significant book that must be read by all who seek to understand the origins of the United States.

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Compellng, Conversational Antithesis to Pauline Maier

Gordon S. Wood argues the American Revolution transformed American society more than any other event in history. Conceding that the American Revolution was not as bloody as the French, Russian, or Chinese Revolutions, it did, in fact serve as the model for those that came later. Wood argues the American Revolution was not a conservative movement as is often the popular consensus among historians. Wood's concentration is centered squarely on social change. "By the time the Revolution had run its course [writes Wood] in the early nineteenth century, American society had been radically and thoroughly transformed." "By the early years of the nineteenth century the Revolution had created a society fundamentally different from the colonial society of the eighteenth century. It was in fact a new society unlike any that had ever existed anywhere in the world." How, in Wood's view, did this social transformation occur? Wood illustrates that the transformation of early American society occurred in three distinct phrases that he later called "three cultural paradigms or ideal types." American society, argues Wood, underwent a political shift from a Monarchy, to a republic, to a democracy. These three shifts represent the outline of the book. Wood emphasizes, however, that these three phrases did not transpire in neat blocks of black and white. There were, in fact, many gray areas. Not all elements of American society felt the impact of this transformation at once. Wood's study continues some forty years after the Revolution into the early nineteenth century to illustrate the full social, political, economic, and religious change in American society. Somewhat contradicting to his timeframe, however, Wood states: "Far from remaining monarchical, hierarchy-ridden subjects on the margin of civilization, Americans had become, almost over-night the most liberal, the most democratic, the most commercially minded, and the most modern people in the world...."It was the Revolution, more than any other single event, that made America into the most liberal, democratic, and modern nation in the world." This then is the essence of Wood's study. Wood goes on to explain in intricate detail this amazing conversion to democracy. Incorporating varying methodologies of the social sciences, Wood shows how the social hierarchy and class distinctions of the American aristocracy, or landed gentry began to wither away after the Revolution under the auspices of a new egalitarian society. The masses could now own land, and run for public office. Paper money, debt, and other aspects of a modern economy as we know it today were established in the years following the American Revolution. Wood devotes a detailed discussion on the renovation of American labor. Diversity is another theme expressed by Wood, particularly in reference to religion in America. Aside from elements of the social sciences, Wood incorporates a philosophic approach as well, discussing such themes as modernity, equality, and even virtue and benevolence. Wood consults more contemporary secondary sources as well as the standard primary material. This method not only underscores the scope of Wood's scholarship, but also leads the reader to the wealth of modern historiography. Wood's prose in exceedingly conversational and although his notes are extensive, his paragraphs are not crammed with numerous citations. Wood's arguments flow evenly, however this is one book one must stay with in order to preserve continuity. It is the incorporation of the social science methodologies that enable Wood to succeed in making this a true inter-colonial study touching upon nearly all aspects of American society. Nevertheless, two exceptions are Native-Americans and African Americans who could and should have received more space. Wood does touch upon these two racial groups, yet, their voice is fragmented. In spite of these blemishes, Wood comes closest to answering the question of what makes Americans unique as a people. He accomplishes this task without harboring on exceptionalism by placing the new United States within the framework of the Atlantic World. Wood has provided a benchmark for other historians to follow. Highly recommended.

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Radicalism, American Style

Gordon Wood's "Radicalism of the American Revolution" is truly an eye opening and long overdue study of the true radical nature of the American Revolution. Wood shatters the myths perpetrated by the conservative "consensus" historians that the American Revolution was "conservative" and "mild".

Wood shows that America, even in colonial times, was quite different from the rest of the Western world of kings, nobles and priests. Sure, Americans were governed by a herediatary monarchy and it's sycophants and minions, but that rule was shaky at best. This shaky rule was further weakened by the lack of a nobility residing in the colonies. Yes, there was an aristocracy, but they were not nearly as powerful as in Europe.

Wood begins by laying out the foundations of the colonial governments and society. He points out that the American colonists were contentious, and sensitive to any infringments on their liberty. He also brings to light the beginnings of a market economy, which began to liberate Americans from their mercantilist and elitist economic elites.

The American Revolution literally brought ordinary people into government. This did not happen overnight, but the concept of "gentlemen" ruling a society as the masses meekly submitted gave way to the forces of classical liberalism and democracy.

The Revolution caused an upheaval in all areas of American life: religion, slavery, commerce, government, voter sufferage,
and family relationships.

Americans no longer saw themselves as living for the ideal of "virtue" and in subservience to their "betters", but saw individual freedom and economic prosperity as an end in and of itself. Private life became separated from public life and people pursuing their own interest was soon seen as an ideal that was good for society.

Wood correctly relays to the reader the radicalism of the American Revolution as extending beyond the dreams of it's Founders and an expansion of the ideals of the Revolution to all areas of society. This is what makes the American Revolution more radical than the French or Russian Revolutions. Both of those revolutions ended in despotism, while America, with all of it's flaws, ended with giving more liberty to it's citizens. The creation of private reform, and other associations and socities was unheard of in Old Europe. Groups opposing slavery, and for a wider sufferage blossomed and Americans joined private groups with an avidity unseen in despotic nations.

One reviewer, John Chuckman, seems to hate the American Revolution and believes America is a racist, and non-revolutionary nation. This is, of course a leftist view of America which unfortunately too many people buy into. Don't believe such nonsense. Instead pick up this book and see the radicalism of the American Revolution first hand. You will not be disappointed.

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Brilliant account of Revolutionary thought

Wood clearly understands how to research. His arguments are supported by significant evidence, and present an interesting take on Revolutionary America.

The Radicalism of the American Revolution

I thought this book was in pretty good condition for it being so old. As well, I liked the fact that there were already notes and underlined passages in the book which helps me out a lot!!

Thanks

reviews: 1, 2, 3, page 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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