About the book
In this innovative study, David Waldstreicher investigates the importance of political festivals in the early American republic. Drawing on newspapers, broadsides, diaries, and letters, he shows how patriotic celebrations and their reproduction in a rapidly expanding print culture helped connect local politics to national identity. Waldstreicher reveals how Americans worked out their political differences in creating a festive calendar. Using the Fourth of July as a model, members of different political parties and social movements invented new holidays celebrating such events as the ratification of the Constitution, Washington’s birthday, Jefferson’s inauguration, and the end of the slave trade. They used these politicized rituals, he argues, to build constituencies and to make political arguments on a national scale. While these celebrations enabled nonvoters to participate intimately in the political process and helped dissenters forge effective means of protest, they had their limits as vehicles of democratization or modes of citizenship, Waldstreicher says. Exploring the interplay of region, race, class, and gender in the development of a national identity, he demonstrates that an acknowledgment of the diversity and conflict inherent in the process is crucial to any understanding of American politics and culture.
Editions of In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807823842
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807846919
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469600666
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890869173
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807838556
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890869166
Read an Excerpt
In this innovative study, David Waldstreicher investigates the importance of political festivals in the early American republic. Drawing on newspapers, broadsides, diaries, and letters, he shows how patriotic celebrations and their reproduction in a rapidly expanding print culture helped connect local politics to national identity. Waldstreicher reveals how Americans worked out their political differences in creating a festive calendar. Using the Fourth of July as a model, members of different political parties and social movements invented new holidays celebrating such events as the ratification of the Constitution, Washington’s birthday, Jefferson’s inauguration, and the end of the slave trade. They used these politicized rituals, he argues, to build constituencies and to make political arguments on a national scale. While these celebrations enabled nonvoters to participate intimately in the political process and helped dissenters forge effective means of protest, they had their limits as vehicles of democratization or modes of citizenship, Waldstreicher says. Exploring the interplay of region, race, class, and gender in the development of a national identity, he demonstrates that an acknowledgment of the diversity and conflict inherent in the process is crucial to any understanding of American politics and culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes about?
In this innovative study, David Waldstreicher investigates the importance of political festivals in the early American republic. Drawing on newspapers, broadsides, diaries, and letters, he shows how patriotic celebrations and their reproduction in a rapidly expanding print culture helped connect local politics to national identity. Waldstreicher reveals how Americans worked out their political differences in creating a festive calendar. Using the Fourth of July as a model, members of different political parties and social movements invented new holidays celebrating such events as the ratification of the Constitution, Washington’s birthday, Jefferson’s inauguration, and the end of the slave trade. They used these politicized rituals, he argues, to build constituencies and to make political arguments on a national scale. While these celebrations enabled nonvoters to participate intimately in the political process and helped dissenters forge effective means of protest, they had their limits as vehicles of democratization or modes of citizenship, Waldstreicher says. Exploring the interplay of region, race, class, and gender in the development of a national identity, he demonstrates that an acknowledgment of the diversity and conflict inherent in the process is crucial to any understanding of American politics and culture.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807823842
How long is In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes and how many pages does it have?
In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes has 384 page(s)
Is In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture and the University of North Carolina Press
Who is/are the Author/s of the book In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes?
David Waldstreicher
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807823842) and paperback(ISBN 9780807846919) and ebook(ISBN 9781469600666) and ebook(ISBN 9798890869173) and ebook(ISBN 9780807838556) and pdf(ISBN 9798890869166)
Where can I buy In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes from below
Where can I buy In the Midst of Perpetual Fetes?