[839] in libertarians
Laissez Faire Book News: OVERVIEW OF AMERICAN HISTORY
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Chris Whitten)
Tue Mar 21 18:44:53 1995
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 1995 18:43:08 -0500 (EST)
From: Chris Whitten <lfb@panix.com>
Apparently-To: <libertarians@mit.edu>
Great champions, enemies and issues of American liberty
AN OVERVIEW OF AMERICAN HISTORY
From the Revolution to the Progressive Era
by George H. Smith
(reviewed by Jim Powell)
Incredibly, there doesn't seem to be a single good book which covers
American history from the standpoint of individual liberty. Perhaps
the best way to gain an overview are these three taped presentations
by intellectual historian George H. Smith, delivered at Cato Institute
summer seminars again and again during the 1980s. He speaks with
tremendous knowledge as well as passion about great champions,
enemies and issues of American liberty.
Smith starts with the radical roots of the American Revolution--make
no mistake about it, the Revolution was radical. He talks about heroes
who inspired it: English "Levellers," English philosophers Algernon
Sidney and John Locke, English journalists John Trenchard and
Thomas Gordon and Revolutionary authors like Thomas Jefferson
and Thomas Paine. You'll probably smile as Smith tells how freedom-
loving Americans hated taxes, admired radical agitators like Samuel
Adams and resourceful smugglers such as John Hancock.
Smith shares his provocative views about the Revolutionary War. He
identifies two key British blunders. He talks about the reasons for
American military success. Smith laments the brutality on both sides,
the ruinous inflation and pressure for centralized government, all of
which inevitably result from war. A bold maverick, he explains why
he believes there might well have been more liberty if the
Revolutionary War were avoided.
Smith challenges the standard line that post-Revolutionary America
was plagued with problems because of the "weak" Articles of
Confederation--and that the Constitution was the best remedy. He
names powerful interests which pushed for the Constitution. He tells
why their proceedings had to be kept secret. He explains why many
of America's best minds became Anti-Federalists opposed to the
Constitution and how they secured our precious Bill of Rights. Since
most people have heard only of the pro-Constitution Federalist
Papers, Smith cites Anti-Federalist writings which fill seven large
volumes.
Smith describes the extraordinary scheming of Federalist Alexander
Hamilton who tried to make America a hereditary monarchy in all but
name. You'll hear how Federalist President John Adams got an
outrageous law making it illegal to criticize the government. You'll
hear how, after Thomas Jefferson became President in 1800, he did
much to dismantle big government and how his beneficent influence
generally prevailed for more than a half-century.
Smith chronicles the epic struggle against slavery. He profiles the
crusading anti-slavery journalist William Lloyd Garrison. He tells the
truth about gradualist Abraham Lincoln who was much less than the
fabled liberator of legend. Smith makes clear why the Emancipation
Proclamation was actually a calculated military and diplomatic
document which didn't free a single slave.
Smith recounts the colossal carnage of the Civil War, including some
620,000 dead. He tells how the federal government expanded
dramatically. He talks about conscription, corruption, tariffs and
taxes. As he surveys the evil consequences of the war, he makes a
case that the whole situation would have been better resolved without
all that killing.
He explains how the war had an insidious impact on American
thinking--suddenly, Jefferson was "out" and Hamilton was "in."
Smith focuses on the government school movement which, pioneered
by Horace Mann, gathered momentum rapidly after the Civil War.
Smith tells why, contrary to textbook tales, government schools had
almost nothing to do with literacy (America was already highly
literate) and everything to do with regimenting people, especially
Catholic immigrants. Smith cites the brazenly racist views of
government school promoters like Edward Ross (a hero of
"progressive" President Theodore Roosevelt).
Smith does a masterful job discrediting the "progressive" movement
which mainstream historians long bathed in the glow of good
intentions. Smith shows how "progressives" hated individualism,
lusted for collectivism and imperial conquest of "inferior" races. He
exposes the fraud of "progressive" trust-busting. He tells how
"progressives" enacted phony reforms--government regulations which
established special privileges for big businessmen. He talks about
"progressive" intellectuals like William James who glorified war
socialism and John Dewey who admired fascism. Smith quotes
extensively from the writings of the villains themselves. Although the
original "progressives" are gone, their doctrines are responsible for
big government policies which still plague our lives.
In these insightful presentations, Smith provides valuable perspective
about the breath-taking sweep of American history. He recommends
books where you can get more information about important issues.
You will see exactly what went wrong and how ideas must be
changed to revive the glorious American dream of liberty.
HS6276 (3 audiotapes, vinyl binder) 4 hrs., 20 min. $32.90
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Thanks,
Chris
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Chris Whitten LFB@panix.com
Laissez Faire Books 1-800-326-0996
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