America 1844 - John Bicknell

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Résumé :
The presidential election of 1844 was one of the two or three most momentous elections in American history. Had Henry Clay won instead of James K Polk, we would be living in a very different country today. It cemented the westward expansion that brought Texas, California, and Oregon into the union. It also took place amid religious turmoil that included anti-Mormon and anti-Catholic violence, and the "Great Disappointment" in which thousands of followers of an obscure preacher named William Miller believed Christ would return to Earth in October 1844. Author and journalist John Bicknell details even more compelling, interwoven events that occurred during this momentous year -- the murder of Joseph Smith, the religious fermentation of the Second Great Awakening, John C. Frémont's exploration of the West, Charles Goodyear's patenting of vulcanized rubber, the near-death of President John Tyler in a freak naval explosion, and much more. All of these elements illustrate the competing visions of the American future -- Democrats v. Whigs, Mormons v. Millerites, nativists v. Catholics, those who risked the venture westward and those who stayed safely behindand how Polk's victory cemented the vision of a continental nation.

Sommaire:
A nation on the brink of transformation: religion, expansion, and a pivotal election.

America 1844 explores the forces that shaped a nation on the cusp of immense change. From religious fervor and social reform to westward expansion and political polarization, John Bicknell vividly portrays the key events and figures of this pivotal year.

Discover the intertwined stories of religious movements like Millerism and Mormonism, the political maneuvering surrounding the annexation of Texas, and the innovations that would forever alter American life.

• Understand the competing visions that defined the era.
• Explore the lives of iconic figures like Henry Clay, James Polk, and Joseph Smith.
• Gain new insights into the forces that continue to shape America today.