A Time of Promise

Essay # 2414

African-American Studies > Slavery
History > U.S. The Young Nation 1800-1848

A Time of Promise

An examination of Daniel Feller's "The Jacksonian Promise". A look at the arguments proposed by the writer.

816 words () | 1 source | 2001 United States

Paper Summary:

Paper evaluating the promises seen in the historical account of Daniel Feller's "The Jacksonian Promise". The author examines to what extent the idea of promise and hope was achieved in the period of the 1800's arguing that Indians, slaves, women and the working class were denied these ideals.

From the Paper:

"In The Jacksonian Promise, Daniel Feller supports an argument that despite poverty among Americans, the word "promise" can be associated with this period because generally Americans agreed that their nation was providentially destined for greatness, and optimism, not gloom. Feller explains that Americans of the 1810s and 1820s were enraptured by the "spirit of improvement"; a ?promise,? symbolized by hope in the steamboat, the American system of manufacturing, and the magnificent network of canals. These new innovations along with the American's establishment of a democratic republic and sustenance of it in the War of 1812, gave Americans the idea that the sky was the limit. Although there was a sincere "promise" in the life of the gentry of America, Indians, slaves, women, and the working class citizenry were denied every bit of promise that was a thought in their minds."