Book Review: The Boisterous Sea of Liberty

Contact Your Elected Officials

The Boisterous Sea of Liberty, edited by David Brion Davis and Steven Mintz, is a chronological presentation of Americaโ€™s history from Columbusโ€™ discovery to the end of the Civil War. The narrative focuses mainly on racial relations in America, and is interspersed with 366 documents (such as letters, speeches, and newspaper articles). Though an excellently written book, its overall value is marred by prominent historical inaccuracies which should be of concern to the conservative reader.

As it relates U.S. history, The Boisterous Sea of Liberty makes several deliberate statements regarding the โ€œhistorical ironiesโ€ of our country, whether it be that slave-holding colonists were fighting for freedom, or that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence though a slaveholder. The book even suspects there were selfish motives behind some late eighteenth-century abolitionist movements (297).

The book tends to take a pessimistic view of our countryโ€™s founding. It claims, โ€œThe American Revolution underscored the contradiction between a people torn between allegiance to high moral ideals and a base reality of racial dominationโ€ (188). And when the colonists โ€œbegan to angrily resist British encroachments of power of the 1760s and 1770s, they were surrounded by African-American slaves, their own living examples of the dishonor and dehumanization of total powerlessnessโ€ (5). Such passages undermining and disregarding the principles fought for in the American Revolution are upsetting to the patriotic American. It should be remembered that the United States was the first nation to begin paving the way toward abolishing slavery.

Another troubling aspect of this book is its treatment of Thomas Jefferson. The book constantly harps on Jeffersonโ€™s being a slaveowner. There is the claim that โ€œJeffersonโ€™s life was filled with many paradoxes and contradictions. . . .But the central contradiction of Jeffersonโ€™s life involved slavery. . . . His words in the Declaration of Independence were among the most important ideological forces undermining slavery, and yet Jefferson was also a lifelong owner of slavesโ€ (224-225). In reality, Jeffersonโ€™s first act as a legislator was one attempting to permit the emancipation of slaves. Jefferson also said, โ€œThere is nothing I would not sacrifice to a practicable plan of abolishing every vestige of this moral and political depravity [slavery].โ€

One other statement which is matter-of-factly put forward in the book is that โ€œfew of the nationโ€™s founders were devoutly religiousโ€ (329). But there is so much evidence to the contrary, especially in the foundersโ€™ own writings, that this assertion seems ridiculous.

At first glance The Boisterous Sea of Liberty seems a sophisticated, authoritative choice for a historical read, but closer scrutiny reveals unfortunate errors in the bookโ€™s perception of U.S. history. What can be said in the bookโ€™s behalf, however, is that the interesting assortment of historical documents allow the reader to see first-hand the โ€œbig pictureโ€ of U.S. history.

Bibliography:

Davis, David Brion and Steven Mintz, eds. The Boisterous Sea of Liberty. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.

[TAGS: book review, The Boisterous Sea of Liberty, American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson, David Brion Davis]

Book Knowledge
Book Knowledgehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/previews/books-magazines/
Book Knowledge shares books, magazines and other sources that help us grow in our knowledge of conservatism and help us make a difference in our country.

AI is Now an Existential Threat

We now see evidence that artificial intelligence is an existential threat to our future. It is coming to take American jobs!

With or without

The mullahs of Iran have been at war with the West, particularly the US, for half a century and Iran is also the worldโ€™s foremost champion of terrorism.

Artificial Intelligence Equals Awful Iniquities

WSJ article โ€œAI is Learning to Escape Human Controlโ€ said in 79 of 100 trials, the o3 AI code systems edited their own code to prevent human shutdown!

VIDEO: Deranged Feminist vs. Mating Ducks in Epic Public Meltdown

A middle-aged white lady lib harasses mating ducks to โ€œstop it!โ€ because the rough sex they enjoy appears non-consensual on the part of the female.

RFK Jr. Slashes ALL U.S. Funding For Bill Gatesโ€™ Global โ€˜Vaccine Allianceโ€™

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. recently pulled all U.S. government funding from Bill Gatesโ€™ Global โ€˜Vaccine Allianceโ€™ GAVI.

Musk Again Wades Into Politics, Calls GOP Bill โ€˜Insane and Destructiveโ€™

โ€œThe latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!โ€ Musk wrote in a Saturday post on X.

Nevada Seen as Case Study in Rapid Urban Sprawl Amid a Water Crisis

Nevadaโ€™s rapidly growing population has reached a critical intersection with the regionโ€™s worsening water crisis, according to experts.

US Streamlines Rule for Fining Illegal Immigrants, Will Issue Nearly $1,000 Daily Fines for Noncompliance

DHS and DOJ announced a new joint federal rule that streamlines the process of issuing fines for illegal immigrants, making it easier and more efficient.

Man Indicted on 12 Hate Crime Charges in Attack on Boulder Demonstration for Israeli Hostages

Boulder, CO man accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at demonstrators supporting Israeli hostages indicted by grand jury on 12 hate crime counts.

Canada-US Trade Talks Will End Until โ€˜Certain Taxesโ€™ Are Dropped, Trump Stresses

Trade discussions between Canada and the United States will end โ€œuntil such time as they drop certain taxes,โ€ U.S. President Trump said in an interview.

Trump Says US to Send Tariff Letters to Trade Partners Before July 9 Deadline

President Donald Trump said Sunday he will soon send letters to trading partners detailing the tariffs to be imposed on their exports to the United States.

Trump Says He Found a Buyer for TikTok

President Trump said he found a buyer for the Chinese-owned short video application TikTok, and that he will reveal the group in roughly two weeks.

Termination of โ€˜Wasteful Contractsโ€™ Saves US Government $470 Million Last Week: DOGE

Over the past seven days, various government agencies have terminated 312 โ€œwasteful contractsโ€ with a ceiling value of $2.8 billion, the DOGE said.
spot_img

Related Articles