Acknowledgments; Introduction; Part I: The Rise of Civil Society; 1. Forging the Creed; 2. The Feminization of Republicanism; 3. The Legacy of Disestablishment; 4. The Geography of Generosity; 5. Race, Religion, and Reform; Part II: Testing the Faith; 6. The Jacksonian Backlash; 7. Civil Society/Civil Disorder; 8. The Politics of Chivalry; Conclusion: Civil Society and the Civil War; Notes; Bibliography; Index
Summary
Since the dawn of the republic, faith in social equality, religious freedom, and the right to engage in civic activism have constituted our national creed. In this bracing history, Kathleen D. McCarthy traces the evolution of these ideals, exploring the impact of philanthropy and volunteerism on America from 1700 to 1865. What results is a vital reevaluation of public life during the pivotal decades leading up to the Civil War. The market revolution, participatory democracy, and voluntary associations have all been closely linked since the birth of the United States. American Creed explores the
