
A Dream of the Judgment Day
American Millennialism and Apocalypticism, 1620-1890
John Howard Smith(Author)
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 31. March 2021
Book
Hardback
396 pages
978-0-19-753374-1 (ISBN)
Description
The United States has long thought of itself as exceptional--a nation destined to lead the world into a bright and glorious future. These ideas go back to the Puritan belief that Massachusetts would be a "city on a hill," and in time that image came to define the United States and the American mentality. But what is at the root of these convictions? John Howard Smith's A Dream of the Judgment Day explores the origins of beliefs about the biblical end of the world as Americans have come to understand them, and how these beliefs led to a conception of the United States as an exceptional nation with a unique destiny to fulfill. However, these beliefs implicitly and explicitly excluded African Americans and American Indians because they didn't fit white Anglo-Saxon ideals. While these groups were influenced by these Christian ideas, their exclusion meant they had to craft their own versions of millenarian beliefs. Women and other marginalized groups also played a far larger role than usually acknowledged in this phenomenon, greatly influencing the developing notion of the United States as the "redeemer nation."
Smith's comprehensive history of eschatological thought in early America encompasses traditional and non-traditional Christian beliefs in the end of the world. It reveals how millennialism and apocalypticism played a role in destructive and racist beliefs like "Manifest Destiny," while at the same time influencing the foundational idea of the United States as an "elect nation." Featuring a broadly diverse cast of historical figures, A Dream of the Judgment Day synthesizes more than forty years of scholarship into a compelling and challenging portrait of early America.
Smith's comprehensive history of eschatological thought in early America encompasses traditional and non-traditional Christian beliefs in the end of the world. It reveals how millennialism and apocalypticism played a role in destructive and racist beliefs like "Manifest Destiny," while at the same time influencing the foundational idea of the United States as an "elect nation." Featuring a broadly diverse cast of historical figures, A Dream of the Judgment Day synthesizes more than forty years of scholarship into a compelling and challenging portrait of early America.
Reviews / Votes
This is an approachable and wide ranging overview of apocalyptic traditions in America. This book will be of interest to historians of Christianity, American religions, and early America and, with supplementation, would be suitable for graduate or advanced undergraduate courses in American religions and eschatology. * Sarah Koenig, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Church History * Although library shelves are already heavy with good academic studies of American apocalypticism, John Howard Smith's A Dream of the Judgment Day is, in my opinion, the best single volume on the history of apocalypticism and millennialism in the United States now available. * Brian C. Wilson, Western Michigan University, Nova Religio * Stylistically lucid and intellectually rich, A Dream of the Judgment Day combines rigorous archival work with accessible storytelling. It will serve not only graduate students but also all readers interested in understanding how visions of the end have persistently framed America's sense of purpose, identity, and divine destiny. * Tianji Ma, Religious Studies Review *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
754 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-753374-1 (9780197533741)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
02/2021
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€46.99
Available for download

E-Book
02/2021
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€46.99
Available for download
Person
John Howard Smith is Professor of History at Texas A&M University--Commerce and author of The First Great Awakening: Redefining Religion in British America, 1725-1775.
Content
Acknowledgments
List of Figures Introduction
"The Birth of a New Millennium" Chapter 1
"The Woman in the Wilderness" Chapter 2 "The Glorious Day Is Coming On" Chapter 3
"The Prophecy of Daniel Is now Literally Fulfilling" Chapter 4
"The Earth Would Become as New Again" Chapter 5
"Lightnings and Thunderings, and Voices" Chapter 6
"I Will Multiply them and they Shall not Be Few" Chapter 7
"Groaning for the Latter Day" Chapter 8 "The Nation's Hoop is Broken and Scattered" Conclusion
"On the Very Bring of Destruction" Bibliograpy
Notes
Index
List of Figures Introduction
"The Birth of a New Millennium" Chapter 1
"The Woman in the Wilderness" Chapter 2 "The Glorious Day Is Coming On" Chapter 3
"The Prophecy of Daniel Is now Literally Fulfilling" Chapter 4
"The Earth Would Become as New Again" Chapter 5
"Lightnings and Thunderings, and Voices" Chapter 6
"I Will Multiply them and they Shall not Be Few" Chapter 7
"Groaning for the Latter Day" Chapter 8 "The Nation's Hoop is Broken and Scattered" Conclusion
"On the Very Bring of Destruction" Bibliograpy
Notes
Index