Winner; Best History Book; Midwest Book Awards (2014). In the Old Northwest from 1830-1870; a bold set of activists battled slavery and racial prejudice. This book is about their expansive efforts to eradicate southern slavery and its local influence in the contentious milieu of four new states carved out of the Northwest Territory: Illinois; Indiana; Michigan; and Ohio. While the Northwest Ordinance outlawed slavery in the region in 1787; in reality both it and racism continued to exert strong influence in the Old Northwest; as seen in the race-based limitations of civil liberties there. Indeed; these states comprised the central battleground over race and rights in antebellum America; in a time when race's social meaning was deeply infused into all aspects of Americans' lives; and when people struggled to establish political consensus. Antislavery and anti-prejudice activists crossed racial lines as they battled to expand African American rights in this region. Whether they were antislavery lecturers; journalists; or African American leaders of the Black Convention Movement; women or men; they formed associations; published denunciations of their local racial climate; and gave controversial lectures. In the process; they discovered that they had to fight for their own right to advocate for others. This bracing new history by Dana Elizabeth Weiner is thus not only a history of activism; but also a history of how Old Northwest reformers understood the law and shaped new conceptions of justice and civil liberties. A welcome addition to the Mellon-sponsored Early American Places Series; Race and Rights substantially contributes to the study of race and social activism in nineteenth century America.
#1610706 in Books Brandeis 1997-09-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .66 x 5.51l; .82 #File Name: 0874518482287 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent description of the emergence of denominations and various trends ...By Rabbi BethExcellent description of the emergence of denominations and various trends in American Judaism over the last century-plus. This book describes patterns; history; and the many twists and turns of Jewish ritual life; culture; language and more in recent decades. An easy to understand read and very detailed with contextual information that frames the crux of each section. A great addition to my ever-growing library!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. An outstanding studyBy Shalom FreedmanJack Wertheimer has been for years one of the most thoughtful and concerned writers about the condition of American Jewry. His understanding of the polarization in the community; and the damage done to by assimilation is based on his strong adherence to Jewish religious tradition. The fact however that one diagnoses correctly a certain problem does not mean that one can provide a solution. Wertheimer has at times suggested that instead of worrying about those Jews who show little concern about the tradition; the community direct its resources to strengthening those that do.In any case reading this work will provide a true understanding of the basic sociological identity of the American Jewish community.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Discussion of Current State of American JudaismBy A CustomerThough currently JEW V. JEW is receiving all the attention in the press; Jack Wertheimer's A PEOPLE DIVIDED is probably a better account of the state of American Jewry today.While JEW V. JEW imitates midrash in its telling of divisions among American Jews; A PEOPLE DIVIDED gives a more straightforward account and the historical perspective needed to make sense of the battles American Jews are now fighting among themselves. I read this over the summer of 2000; when I was relatively new to Judaism; and it proved an immeasurable help in understanding why the Jewish community is the way it is.The only reason I don't give this book four stars is that Wertheimer occasionally lapses into his own (rather obvious) Conservative bias. Somehow; he seems to believe that the current wars have started because both Orthodoxy and Reform have branched off from the "true Judaism" represented by the Conservative Movement. Wertheimer also could have paid more attention to Reconstructionism; a branch of Judaism that; though it has some similarities to Reform; has its own internal philosophical battles.All in all; though; A PEOPLE DIVIDED is an excellent introduction to its subject matter and a book I highly recommend.
