The Saints and the State
The Saints and the State

Author: James Simeone

Publisher: Ohio University Press

Published: 2021-05-05

Total Pages: 539

ISBN-13: 0821447386

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A compelling history of the 1846 Mormon expulsion from Illinois that exemplifies the limits of American democracy and religious tolerance. When members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (known as Mormons) settled in Illinois in 1839, they had been persecuted for their beliefs from Ohio to Missouri. Illinoisans viewed themselves as religiously tolerant egalitarians and initially welcomed the Mormons to their state. However, non-Mormon locals who valued competitive individualism perceived the saints‘ western Illinois settlement, Nauvoo, as a theocracy with too much political power. Amid escalating tensions in 1844, anti-Mormon vigilantes assassinated church founder Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. Two years later, the state expelled the saints. Illinois rejected the Mormons not for their religion, but rather for their effort to create a self-governing state in Nauvoo. Mormons put the essential aspirations of American liberal democracy to the test in Illinois. The saints’ inward group focus and their decision to live together in Nauvoo highlight the challenges strong group consciousness and attachment pose to democratic governance. The Saints and the State narrates this tragic story as an epic failure of governance and shows how the conflicting demands of fairness to the Mormons and accountability to Illinois’s majority became incompatible.

The Frontier Against Slavery
The Frontier Against Slavery

Author: Eugene H. Berwanger

Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13: 9780252070563

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Eugene H. Berwanger's study of anti-slavery sentiment in the antebellum West is as resoundingly important now, in a new paperback edition, as when first published in 1967. In The Frontier against Slavery, Berwanger attributes the social and political climates of the states and territories Ohio River Valley pioneers settled before 1860 to racial prejudice. Drawing from newspaper accounts, political speeches, correspondence, and legal documents, Berwanger reveals that the whites-only sentiments of the pioneers, rather than humanitarian concern for African Americans, limited the expansion of slavery. This whites-only prejudice shaped laws in the majority of western states and territories that excluded all African Americans, enslaved or free, from citizenship, evidencing the deep-rooted discrimination of political leaders and pioneers.

The Social Order of a Frontier Community
The Social Order of a Frontier Community

Author: Don Harrison Doyle

Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Published: 2023-02-03

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 0252054911

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"A well-conceived and well-argued book that is essential reading for those interested in the study of community building." --Journal of American History "This study is important for both frontier and urban historians. It is well written, thoroughly documented, and illustrated in an informative manner. One may hope that future studies of other nineteenth century American towns will be completed with the competence and style of this excellent volume." --The Old Northwest "For one who has lived in Jacksonville as I have, reading this book stirred fond memories and answered lingering questions about this town. . . . As a capsule study of an unusual Illinois community renowned for its past, Doyle's book makes for fascinating reading." --Civil War History

The Frontier in American History
The Frontier in American History

Author: Frederick Jackson Turner

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2023-12-15

Total Pages: 305

ISBN-13:

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In Frederick Jackson Turner's influential work, 'The Frontier in American History', the author delves into the significance of the American frontier in shaping the nation's identity and character. Written in a scholarly and meticulously researched fashion, Turner explores how the frontier experience influenced American social, political, and economic development during the 19th century. Through detailed analysis and compelling arguments, he highlights the frontier as a key factor in the formation of the American spirit and democracy. The book's literary style is academic yet accessible, making it a cornerstone in the study of American history and culture. Frederick Jackson Turner, a renowned historian and professor, was inspired to write this groundbreaking book after extensive research on the impact of the frontier on American society. His innovative thesis sparked debates and shaped the field of American historiography for years to come. Turner's expertise and passion for the subject shine through in his comprehensive examination of the frontier's profound influence on the American psyche. I highly recommend 'The Frontier in American History' to readers interested in the development of the United States and the factors that contributed to its unique national character. Turner's groundbreaking work offers valuable insights into the shaping of American culture and provides a compelling narrative that continues to resonate with scholars and history enthusiasts alike.