Providence and the Invention of the United States, 1607-1876

Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Acknowledgments......Page 9
Introduction......Page 13
Part One Britain, America, and the emergence of providential separatism......Page 21
1 Providence and the Problem of England in Early America......Page 23
Prophecy, History, and National Providentialism......Page 26
Virginia: “Weake and Feeble Crutches”......Page 30
New England: “The Houre for the Worke”......Page 36
The Uses of England in America......Page 42
The Uses of America in England......Page 45
“Confused Times”: English Providentialism after the Restoration......Page 54
“A Little Nation”: New England and Historical Providentialism......Page 58
Conclusion: “Magnalia Dei”......Page 61
2 "Empires Are Mortal"......Page 65
1. "This Providential Key": Providence and Public Affairs in Hanoverian Britain......Page 67
2. "The Indulgence of Heaven": National Identity in the Seven Years' War......Page 74
3. "A Dream in the Night": The Discontinuities of British History......Page 81
4. "That Awful Goal": Imperial Decline and the Future of America......Page 88
5. "Open Paths": The Development of American Providentialism......Page 94
Conclusion: “People of Different Genius”......Page 102
3 "Becoming a Nation at Once"......Page 107
1. "The Asylum of Liberty and True Religion": Patriot Providentialism......Page 108
Constituencies......Page 116
Opponents......Page 120
3. "Pencillers of Providence": Britain and the Meaning of the Revolution......Page 126
Conclusion: Thanksgiving 1783/1784......Page 140
Part Two Providence, Race, and the Limits of Revolution......Page 147
4 “Our Glorious Example”......Page 149
1. Providence, Reform, and Revolution: 1786-1796......Page 153
The Constitution: “The Object of Divine Patronage”......Page 154
France: “A Season of Universal Freedom”......Page 158
2. Confounded Expectations: 1796-1808......Page 162
3. "The Illustrious Hereafter": 1808-1815......Page 173
Conclusion: “Citizens of the World”......Page 180
5 "Deifying Prejudice"......Page 185
1. "The Hand of Heaven Is in It": The Blueprint for Indian Removal......Page 186
2. "A Divine Impulse": Removing Blacks......Page 195
3. "The Obvious Designs of Heaven": Providence and the Politics of Removal......Page 206
Conclusion: “Judgments Are Yet to Be Visited upon Us”......Page 219
6 "Divided Destinies"......Page 226
1. "The Fulfillment of Our Mission": Expansion and Its Critics......Page 228
“A Traditionary Freedom Will Not Save Us”: Antislavery Arguments......Page 242
“The Badges of a Fallen World”: Proslavery Arguments......Page 248
3. "The Key to American History": Slavery and the Rationale for Secession......Page 258
Conclusion: “That Great Idea of National Continuity”......Page 268
7 "The Regenerated Nation"......Page 271
1. "What Is to Be the Mission of This Nation?": God and the Confederacy......Page 273
“A Glorious Career of Self-Regeneration”......Page 287
Colonization, Lincoln, and “the Will of Providence”......Page 294
Conclusion: “The Great Deliverance”......Page 309
8 William Lloyd Garrison's Complaint......Page 311
1. Providence and the New South......Page 314
2. "The Sacred Significance of This War"......Page 321
Conclusion: “Centennial Reflections”......Page 331
Index......Page 339