Review: The Rise of American Democracy

Sean Wilentz’s ambitious book, The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln follows the often turbulent and troubled rise of the democratic government in the United States of America. Wilentz’s argues that democracy was never assured in America, but rather gradually developed from its revolutionary form, overcoming many challenges – and sometimes frontal assaults – through the Civil War. Using a blend of primary sources and historical texts, Wilentz draws an in-depth and seemingly comprehensive picture of the growth of the American form of government. This book contains a wealth of information and insights, and gives the reader a background on both the social and political factors which shaped the American form of government.

At the dawn of the Revolution, the framers of the constitution took a wary view of democracy as it was understood at that time. “Power would indeed shift to the advantage of the enlightened few over the impassioned many. But…it would do so without establishing a formally class-based government” (p 33). The goal of the founding fathers, according to Wilentz, was to “enlarge the influence of a disinterested natural aristocracy” by inventing “a national government that would not permit those natural aristocrats to speak only with each other” (p 39).

A few themes seem to run throughout Wilentz’s interpretation of American political history. The conflict (and sometimes, unity) between City and Country Democrats and the ever increasing gap in world view between the North and the South. Both of these differences would play a critical role in the forming of American democracy.

The major lines of thought in U.S. political thought was divided between the republicans and the federalists. Republicans – and democrats – felt that government’s role should be limited to the necessity of the people, little more. Generally speaking, they believed in universal suffrage (mainly for white men), property rights and civil liberty. Federalism, on the other hand, advocated a strong federal government. The conflict between the federalists and republicans would shape much of the first 50 years of American Political life. Thomas Jefferson would bring republicanism to the forefront of American politics when elected to the presidency, leading to the eventual nominalization of the Federalist Party. “Against Federalism’s immense condescension and determined obstructionism, Jefferson and his party vindicated the political equality of the mass of American citizens” (p. 138).

The war of 1812, and its subsequent opening of the western territories to settlement, had a large impact on American democracy as well. In order to attract settlers, the new states enacted very liberal voting requirements. Additionally, the increase of citizens who did not work the land was increasing leading to an eventual removal of the property restrictions on voting. “By 1828, the principle of universal white male suffrage had all but triumphed – and accompanying that victory, much of the old politics of deference still left over from the Revolutionary era had collapsed” (p 309-310).

The issue of slavery was now coming to the forefront of American politics. With the addition of the new states to the Union, a battle began to ensue between the North and the South as to whether the new states would be ‘slave states.’ The influence of abolitionist groups grew, and with the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, the final line had been crossed for the slave holding states. With the secession of the South, the civil war began marking a huge crisis in American history. Ironically, as Wilentz points out, “is that this second revolution, as well as part of the effort to halt it, had been inspired by the words of a southern slaveholder who helped lead the first revolution” (p 790).

The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln is a grandiose work by Sean Wilentz. Students and enthusiasts of American history will find this work a staple on their bookshelves. Wilentz covers the breadth of American politics in this period, giving his readers a wealth of information. Without a doubt, the rise of American democracy was fraught with conflict. As Wilentz suggests, democracy in the United States was never assured, but was crafted through history. At nearly 800 pages, it may be a little too much for the casual reader of history, but this book will prove an indispensable part of any serious study of post-revolutionary American political history.