American Honor: The Creation of the Nation's Ideals during the Revolutionary Era

by Craig Bruce Smith

The American Revolution was not only a revolution for liberty and freedom, it was also a revolution of ethics, reshaping what colonial Americans understood as "honor" and "virtue." As Craig Bruce Smith demonstrates, these concepts were crucial aspects of Revolutionary Americans' ideological break from Europe and shared by all ranks of society. Focusing his study primarily on prominent Americans who came of age before and during the Revolution--notably John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington--Smith shows how a colonial ethical transformation caused and became inseparable from the American Revolution, creating an ethical ideology that still remains.

By also interweaving individuals and groups that have historically been excluded from the discussion of honor--such as female thinkers, women patriots, slaves, and free African Americans--Smith makes a broad and significant argument about how the Revolutionary era witnessed a fundamental shift in ethical ideas. This thoughtful work sheds new light on a forgotten cause of the Revolution and on the ideological foundation of the United States.

Genres: History, American Revolution, American History

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Craig Bruce Smith is assistant professor of history at William Woods University.

Reviews

[J. Lee Hazlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This book brought together a lot of threads in my understanding that I had not realized were at loose ends. Excellently researched and well-written, I would recommend this book to anyone with a deep interest in the Revolutionary/Early Republican period, particularly those who are also interested in psychology or sociology. It is written in a more academic style than is now the norm, but it is far from overbearing or preachy.

[Jason Reese · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is concerned with a very interesting topic and I learned a great deal. However, it is quite lacking in the narrative art. The chapters read more like academic lectures than a ripping good yarn. But worth of reading none the less for the information contained in it.

[MaryAnn Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

While decently researched and written, I disagree on a point Mr. Smith sees fit to repeat ad nauseum; that the honor and virtue of the colonists were not directly related to religion. And as far as the constant braying of a number of historians that the Founding Fathers were deists, there is quite a bit of evidence to the contrary. The break with England meant a complete split from the Anglican church which was the official state religion of Great Britain. Our Constitution insisted on separation of church and state. George Washington left the Anglican church, becoming an Episcopalian. Deism is a false premise debunked years ago and I am annoyed the author has chosen to repeat this schlock.I
One other item which caused me a bit of concern: the author's statement that novels were instrumental in teaching virtue and honor to many of the Founding Fathers while they were youths. I find it hard to believe that novels were an acceptable means of instruction in the early seventeen hundreds.
Reading a long list of books pertaining to the history of the American Revolution is easy; What counts is to be able to interpret the evidence. The ability to come to independent judgements in order to render your particular thesis viable.
I believe the author has proven his scholarship as to virtue and honor having sprung as something with a different interpretation from the American Revolution. But as I have stated, re!igious teachings had a great deal more to do with it than he wishes to admit.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honor in Europe in the 1700s was deeply tied to status — an aristocrat or a general had more honor than a farmhand (who had none) or a lieutenant. In the American colonies, What Is Honor was a matter for thought and debate: was it acting virtuously? Was it personal achievement? How did it relate to ethics.
For the generation that fought the American Revolution, serving the honor of the nation was more commendable and honorable than aspiring to personal honor. However there was plenty of the latter, and more debate about how to define honor: one writer noted that while a general who saved his army from annihilation by retreat had acted with honor, in the eyes of the public only victory counted. Later generations trying to live up to the founding fathers became more obsessed with personal honor (dueling frequency went up a lot).
Most interesting.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read if you want a different look at the American Revolution and the founders. It talks about how honor and ethics were a cause of the Revolution, which I haven’t seen before in other history books. The writing is excellent and easy to follow, as the author includes lots of interesting stories and narrative throughout. Clearly a lot of research went into this book and it’s worth a read for any fellow lovers of early American history.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed American Honor: The Creation of the Nation's Ideals During the Revolutionary Era. It was well written and absolutely well researched. It was written so that I felt that I was present in that era and could understand the bravery, vision and goals of the Founders and others in that time period. It is a great book. I feel happy to have read it.

[Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the concept of honor and virtue during the founding of our nation. Very scholarly. The epilogue was an important comment on the changes over time.

[Scarlet Ingstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best-cited works I've read on the American Revolutionary period. Fascinating study that challenge preconceived notions of how Americans formed their ideals. Highly recommend.

[Melanie Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read on honor and virtue before, during, and after the American Revolution. Very in depth and easy to understand. Great comparisons among people of differing backgrounds and views.