Description:
UsedGood. The book may have minor cosmetic wear (i.e. creased spine/cover, scratches, curled corners, folded pages, minor sunburn, minor water damage, minor bent). The book may have some highlights/notes/underlined pages - Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, may not be included - Safe and Secure Mailer - No Hassle Return
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence Paperback - 1998
by Maier, Pauline
- Used
Drawing upon dozens of other "declarations of independence" written to protest the repression of the colonies by King George III, as well as carefully analyzing the drafts of the Declaration signed on July 4, 1776, Maier reveals the extent to which Jefferson's words and ideas were indebted to popular political beliefs.
From the publisher
First line
THE DELEGATES' LONG, slow journey from Massachussetts to Pennsylvania need not have been made.
From the jacket flap
Pauline Maier shows us the Declaration as both the defining statement of our national identity and the moral standard by which we live as a nation. It is truly "American Scripture," and Maier tells us how it came to be -- from the Declaration's birth in the hard and tortuous struggle by which Americans arrived at Independence to the ways in which, in the nineteenth century, the document itself became sanctified.
Maier describes the transformation of the Second Continental Congress into a national government, unlike anything that preceded or followed it, and with more authority than the colonists would ever have conceded to the British Parliament; the great difficulty in making the decision for Independence; the influence of Paine's "Common Sense, which shifted the terms of debate; and the political maneuvers that allowed Congress to make the momentous decision.
In Maier's hands, the Declaration of Independence is brought close to us. She lets us hear the voice of the people as revealed in the other "declarations" of 1776: the local resolutions -- most of which have gone unnoticed over the past two centuries -- that explained, advocated, and justified Independence and undergirded Congress's work. Detective-like, she discloses the origins of key ideas and phrases in the Declaration and unravels the complex story of its drafting and of the group-editing job which angered Thomas Jefferson.
Maier also reveals what happened to the Declaration after the signing and celebration: how it was largely forgotten and then revived to buttress political arguments of the nineteenth century; and, most important, how Abraham Lincoln ensured its persistence as a living force in Americansociety. Finally, she shows how by the very act of venerating the Declaration as we do -- by holding it as sacrosanct, akin to holy writ -- we may actually be betraying its purpose and its power.
Maier describes the transformation of the Second Continental Congress into a national government, unlike anything that preceded or followed it, and with more authority than the colonists would ever have conceded to the British Parliament; the great difficulty in making the decision for Independence; the influence of Paine's "Common Sense, which shifted the terms of debate; and the political maneuvers that allowed Congress to make the momentous decision.
In Maier's hands, the Declaration of Independence is brought close to us. She lets us hear the voice of the people as revealed in the other "declarations" of 1776: the local resolutions -- most of which have gone unnoticed over the past two centuries -- that explained, advocated, and justified Independence and undergirded Congress's work. Detective-like, she discloses the origins of key ideas and phrases in the Declaration and unravels the complex story of its drafting and of the group-editing job which angered Thomas Jefferson.
Maier also reveals what happened to the Declaration after the signing and celebration: how it was largely forgotten and then revived to buttress political arguments of the nineteenth century; and, most important, how Abraham Lincoln ensured its persistence as a living force in Americansociety. Finally, she shows how by the very act of venerating the Declaration as we do -- by holding it as sacrosanct, akin to holy writ -- we may actually be betraying its purpose and its power.
Details
- Title American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence
- Author Maier, Pauline
- Binding Paperback
- Edition [ Edition: Repri
- Condition Used - Good
- Pages 336
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Vintage, New York, New York, U.S.A.
- Date May 26, 1998
- Bookseller's Inventory # L09A-03756
- ISBN 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Weight 0.55 lbs (0.25 kg)
- Dimensions 8.04 x 5.32 x 0.73 in (20.42 x 13.51 x 1.85 cm)
-
Themes
- Chronological Period: 18th Century
- Library of Congress subjects United States, United States - Politics and government -
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 97002769
- Dewey Decimal Code 973.313
Categories
Media reviews
Citations
- New York Times, 07/05/1998, Page 20
About the author
More Copies for Sale
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence
by Add Maier, Pauline
- Used
- Condition
- UsedGood
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
- Item Price
-
$1.25$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
Item Price
$1.25
$3.99
shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence
by Maier, Pauline
- Used
- Condition
- UsedVeryGood
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, United States
- Item Price
-
$1.86$2.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
UsedVeryGood.
Item Price
$1.86
$2.99
shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence
by Maier, Pauline
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- UsedVeryGood
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Springfield, Virginia, United States
- Item Price
-
$4.85FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Vintage, 1998-05-26. paperback. UsedVeryGood. 5x0x8. Very Good condition.Crisp pages. Clean cover and pages. Book shows minimal shelf wear. No highlighting/marking. Not Satisfied? Contact us to get a refund.
Item Price
$4.85
FREE shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence
by Maier, Pauline
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Kingwood, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
$5.18FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Vintage, 1998-05-26. Paperback. Good. 5x0x8.
Item Price
$5.18
FREE shipping to USA
American Scripture : Making the Declaration of Independence
by Pauline Maier
- Used
- Acceptable
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.23FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1998. Paperback. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.23
FREE shipping to USA
American Scripture : Making the Declaration of Independence
by Pauline Maier
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Quantity Available
- 4
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.23FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1998. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.23
FREE shipping to USA
American Scripture : Making the Declaration of Independence
by Pauline Maier
- Used
- Very Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.23FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1998. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.23
FREE shipping to USA
American Scripture : Making the Declaration of Independence
by Pauline Maier
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.23FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1998. Paperback. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.23
FREE shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
American Scripture : Making the Declaration of Independence
by Maier, Pauline
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- Item Price
-
$7.09FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
$7.09
FREE shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
American Scripture : Making the Declaration of Independence
by Maier, Pauline
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780679779087 / 0679779086
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- Item Price
-
$7.21FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
$7.21
FREE shipping to USA