Main currents in American thought

Contents [Volume Two]

Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition Parrington, Vernon Louis

Introduction: Delimitations of period; romance and economic change; differentiating imperialisms of East, South, West; romantic philosophies: Physiocratic agrarianism, French equalitarianism, English laissez faire; a counter-philosophy—slavery and a Greek democracy

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Book I: The Mind of the South

The mind of the South old-fashioned. Two germinal sources: Virginia, from which derived Kentucky and Tennessee; South Carolina, from which derived the Black Belt

Part I

The Virginia Renaissance

I. The Old Dominion

The mother of the agrarian West. Transition from middle-class to plantation ideals. Increasingly libertarian

II. The Heritage of Jeffersonianism

I. Jeffersonianism an expression of native conditions. Interpreted in terms of Physiocratic agrarianism, natural rights. Terminable nature of compact the source of states-rights doctrine. Struggle between capitalistic and agrarian economics. Virginia the leader of the latter movement

II. John Taylor—Agrarian Economist: Leader of the young Republicans. His works. Theory founded in Physiocratic doctrine. Aristocratic origins of the political state. Examination of the principles of John Adams, Hamilton—social classes derive from exploitation. Danger of a paper aristocracy. His philosophy summarized

III. John Marshall

Last of the Virginia Federalists: His strategic position. Middle-class sympathies; intellectual qualities. A politician on the bench. Two fixed ideas: sovereignty of the federal state; sanctity of private property. His decisions Federalistic. Two main groups: sovereignty of the judiciary; irrevocable nature of contract. The Yazoo Fraud case. An arch conservative

IV. The Older Plantation Mind

I. Plantation backgrounds: The literary renaissance followed English romantic movement. Kennedy’s Swallow Barn and the rise of the plantation tradition

II. William Wirt: The man—embodiment of eighteenth-century culture. The British Spy—characteristics. Life of Patrick Henry—solution of the problem. Later shift in political sympathies

III. Nathaniel Beverley Tucker—A Virginia Fire-eater. His parochialism; his pessimism. The Partisan Leader—a dramatization of Calhoun’s philosophy; the note of romantic extravagance. Hatred of democracy—appeal to South Carolina

V. Adventures in Romance

I. William Alexander Caruthers and the transition to romance. The Kentuckian in New York, a contribution to intersectional good will. An appreciation of northern qualities; a criticism of slavery. The Cavaliers of Virginia, the new spirit of romance. His slight reputation

II. John Pendleton Kennedy—A southern Whig: The man—Jeffersonian backgrounds; influence of Edward Gray. Turned protectionist, accepted the doctrine of progress. A romantic; an amateur. Swallow Barn—an idyl of plantation life—slavery. Horse-Shoe Robinson; Rob of the Bowl—cavalier romance. Quodlibet—a Whig satire of Jacksonianism. His later career

III. Edgar Allan Poe: Relations to southern environment—his prejudices against New England. Aloofness from Virginia ideals. A problem for abnormal psychology and belletristic criticism. An artist and a critic

Part II

The Renaissance of Slavery

I. Southern Imperialism

Shift in attitude towards slavery—consequences to Jeffersonian democracy. The Black Belt—reasons why cotton became king. Reaction of the South to imperialism. Jefferson Davis—his character

II. Winds of Political Doctrine

I. Three streams of thought: Virginia humanitarianism, western individualism, Carolina imperialism. Increasing dominance of the third. Rise of a defensive strategy; appeal to the Constitution