65 pages • 2 hours read
Daniel Walker HoweWhat Hath God Wrought
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2007A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
The Political and Social Challenges of Territorial Expansion
Much of What Hath God Wrought revolves around the political and social challenges of territorial expansion in the United States during the period between 1815 and 1848. This era, marked by rapid growth and change, saw the United States grappling with the implications of its expanding borders, not only in terms of geography but also in the realm of its national identity, politics, and the fabric of its society. The theme of territorial expansion is explored through multiple lenses, highlighting the complexity of incorporating vast lands and diverse peoples into the young nation.
Howe examines how a mix of Manifest Destiny, economic interests, and the desire for national security drove expansion, yet it also brought to the forefront the nation’s internal contradictions, especially regarding freedom, democracy, and the treatment of Indigenous and other marginalized groups. American expansion often entailed the forcible displacement and suffering of Indigenous tribes. Howe asserts:
‘Manifest destiny’ served as both a label and a justification for policies that might otherwise have simply been called American expansionism or imperialism. The assumption of white supremacy permeated these policies. It never occurred to U.S. policymakers to take seriously the claims of nonwhite or racially mixed societies to territorial integrity (725).
This reality laid bare the dissonance between the nation’s avowed commitment to principles of freedom and democracy and its actions that denied these very rights to Indigenous and other marginalized groups. The treatment of these communities not only challenged the moral and ethical foundations of American democracy but also illuminated the complexities and often brutal consequences of applying such expansive ideologies in the pursuit of territorial and economic gains. Through this exploration, Howe reveals how the era’s territorial expansion underscored and exacerbated the inherent contradictions within American society, questioning the inclusivity and applicability of American democratic ideals amidst the pursuit of empire.
Politically, the book interrogates the ways in which territorial expansion tested the United States’ democratic ideals and institutions. Questions arise about how to govern newly acquired territories, the extension of slavery into the west, and the impact of expansion on American politics, including the rise of sectionalism that would eventually lead to the Civil War. It investigates the decisions of leaders and policymakers who navigated these turbulent waters, their successes and failures, and the unforeseen consequences of their actions.
Howe’s approach reflects his own ideologies by presenting history not as a linear or simplistic narrative but as a polyphony woven with complex, contradictory, and competing forces. His liberal stance emerges clearly as he scrutinizes the consequences of white supremacy and American exceptionalism, framing these ideologies not just as historical observations but as critical evaluations of the past’s impact on the present.
Howe’s examination of the era between 1815 and 1848 underscores his belief in the importance of acknowledging the darker aspects of American history, such as the treatment of Indigenous peoples during territorial expansion and the contradictions between the nation’s democratic ideals and its practices. By highlighting these contradictions, Howe challenges the narrative of American exceptionalism that often glosses over the injustices committed in the name of progress and manifest destiny.
Moreover, Howe’s focus on the consequences of white supremacy within the context of American expansionism reflects his ideology that history should serve not only as a record of what has occurred but also as a lens through which to examine the ethical and moral questions that arise from those events. This perspective is particularly evident in his discussions of the displacement of Indigenous peoples and the moral dilemmas posed by slavery and its expansion into new territories.
What Hath God Wrought proposes that while territorial expansion contributed to the United States becoming a continental power, it also laid bare the contradictions at the heart of American democracy. The narrative suggests that Americans met the challenges of expansion with a range of responses, from resistance by Indigenous peoples to political compromise by American leaders, but often resulted in violence, displacement, and injustice. The book implies that the legacy of this era is complex, highlighting the capacity for both remarkable achievement and profound injustice. It suggests that understanding this period requires acknowledging the multifaceted impacts of expansion—not just the growth and prosperity it brought to some but also the suffering and division it inflicted on others.
The Rise of Religious and Social Movements
Howe explores the theme of the rise of religious and social movements extensively, reflecting on how these movements shaped the United States between 1815 and 1848. This period witnessed a flourishing of religious enthusiasm and reformist zeal that aimed to reshape American society according to various moral and spiritual visions. Howe’s exploration reveals the dual, contradictory nature of this enthusiasm: it was capable of inspiring significant social progress and reform, yet they also reflected and sometimes deepened the nation’s most enduring divisions.
Howe delves into the Second Great Awakening, a major religious revival that swept through America, affecting its social fabric. This movement emphasized individual faith, the potential for personal and societal redemption, and played a crucial role in the proliferation of new denominations and the spread of evangelical Christianity. It fostered a sense of moral duty that propelled numerous social reform movements, including those advocating for temperance, abolition of slavery, anti-imperialism, and women’s rights, as Howe notes from the beginning,
Not all Americans endorsed their country’s imperial destiny of territorial expansion. For some people, the Christian religion provided a fulcrum for criticism of American national aggrandizement rather than an endorsement of it. America’s national mission should be one of democratic example rather than conquest, they insisted (28).
This era saw the proliferation of benevolent and reform societies, such as the American Temperance Society and the American Anti-Slavery Society, which used religious moral authority to lobby for legislative changes, organize societal boycotts, and influence public opinion through sermons, pamphlets, and newspapers. This reformist zeal not only brought moral and ethical issues to the forefront of political debate but also democratized political participation, as activists from various social backgrounds, including women and African Americans, found a voice in public discourse.
Howe interrogates how these movements influenced the nation’s moral and ethical standards, asking whether they truly succeeded in bringing about social change or simply reflected deeper societal divisions. He specifically examines the successes of these movements, such as the abolition of slavery, the temperance movement, and the initial stirrings of women’s rights advocacy, highlighting how religious fervor provided a moral impetus for these causes. For instance, the abolition movement found much of its moral and organizational strength in religious communities, particularly among Quakers and evangelical Protestants, who saw slavery as a profound moral evil that needed eradication for the nation to achieve its divine potential. However, these movements also underscored existing societal divisions. The abolitionist movement, for example, revealed deep sectional divides between the North and South, exacerbating tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War. Similarly, the temperance movement often clashed with cultural attitudes towards alcohol consumption, reflecting broader conflicts between urban and rural values, as well as anti-immigrant sentiments, since drinking habits were closely tied to ethnic identities.
Howe suggests that the religious fervor of the era, while contributing to a sense of national destiny and purpose, also highlighted contradictions within American society. For instance, the same religious movements that advocated for abolition and women’s rights often struggled with inclusivity and equality within their own ranks. Or in the case of expansion into Indigenous territories,
The attitude of the missionaries must be characterized carefully if we are to understand their role. Passionately devoted to the propagation of Protestant Christianity and Western civilization, they took scarcely any interest in Native culture. Yet at the same time they believed implicitly in the rationality, moral responsibility, and equal human worth of their Indian hosts (371).
The book proposes that such movements were both a mirror of America’s aspirations for a more just and moral society and a reminder of its persistent shortcomings.
Furthermore, What Hath God Wrought highlights the complex relationship between religion, social reform, and political power. By examining the successes and failures of these movements, Howe offers insights into the dynamic interplay between faith and governance. He acknowledges the significant strides made towards social reform, yet also notes the limitations and challenges faced by these movements, particularly in their efforts to reconcile spiritual ideals with the realities of a diverse and expanding nation.
Howe’s exploration of religious and social movements in this period seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of their influence on American society. His thematic exploration is encapsulated by the title What Hath God Wrought; religion, he implies, is inextricable from American society and history, and the way it shapes things is almost too complex to fully grasp. His overarching message is that this history is full of contradiction and complexity, and he illustrates how these movements were instrumental in advocating for change and shaping the nation’s moral compass, yet also underscores the challenges inherent in translating spiritual and ethical ideals into tangible social and political reforms. Through this analysis, Howe contributes to a deeper appreciation of the multifaceted role of religion and social activism in the development of American identity and democracy.
The Evolving Debate and Conflict Over Slavery
Howe explores the evolving debate and conflict over slavery as a pivotal theme that shaped the United States from 1815 to 1848. This era, characterized by rapid territorial expansion and intense political discourse, brought the issue of slavery to the forefront of national consciousness, revealing deep-seated moral, economic, and political divisions within the country. Howe’s analysis delves into how the expansion of American territories not only extended the geographical reach of the United States but also amplified the contentious debate over whether these new lands would embrace or reject slavery, thereby exacerbating the rift between different sections of the country. For Howe, this debate was central to the contradictions and conflicting perspectives during this time that were shaping American identity.
Through his examination, Howe interrogates the complex relationship between American ideals of liberty and equality and the reality of enslavement practiced within the nation. The contradiction between these foundational American principles and the institution of slavery is a central focus, prompting questions about the nation’s moral compass and its democratic ethos. Howe considers the roles of various stakeholders in this debate, from politicians who navigated the turbulent waters of sectional interests to abolitionists who championed the cause of freedom, from slaveholders who defended their economic interests to the enslaved people who resisted their bondage in both overt and subtle ways. Postcolonial and critical race theory inform Howe’s analysis. These theories scrutinize the embedded colonial and racial ideologies in American history, challenging narratives of exceptionalism and Manifest Destiny.
Howe’s narrative suggests that the debate over slavery was emblematic of a broader struggle for the soul of the nation, reflecting a deep moral quandary over whether a country built on the promise of freedom for all could continue to sanction human bondage. This conflict over slavery did not exist in isolation; it influenced and was influenced by religious, economic, and social movements of the time, intertwining with the era’s key issues like westward expansion, industrialization, and reform movements. By highlighting the inherent tensions within identities, Howe challenges essentialist views and encourages a more nuanced exploration of identity as constantly shifting under the influence of historical, social, and cultural factors. By focusing on these contradictions, Howe illustrates how the debate over slavery was not just a political or moral issue but a fundamental question about what constitutes American identity. This approach enables a multidimensional understanding of the period, showing how identities—national, individual, and communal—were constructed, contested, and reshaped in the face of evolving debates over freedom, rights, and inclusion. Through this lens, Howe’s work not only contributes to the historical understanding of slavery and its impacts but also offers insights into the ongoing process of American identity formation, marked by continual negotiation and redefinition in the face of contradictions and conflicts.
The inability to reconcile the glaring contradictions inherent in the debate over slavery, as Howe proposes, played a crucial role in the polarization of American politics, laying the groundwork for the Civil War. The book illuminates the complex dynamics of the slavery debate, highlighting how it challenged the nation’s ideals, shaped its political landscape, and left an indelible mark on American history. Ultimately, What Hath God Wrought presents the conflict over slavery during this period as a reflection of the divisions within American society and identity, questioning the inclusivity and applicability of the democratic ideals upon which the nation was founded.
