As many in this class can attest, I possess borderline ignorant qualities regarding my stubbornness and argumentativeness (that’s a word). I like to be right. And I like to argue…just to argue. When in the course of human events, however, it becomes necessary for one to readjust his thinking for truthiness and justice. This I have done.
\nIn class Tuesday, I defended the point that Rochester, New York was a relatively appropriate location for Paul Johnson’s book, but I would have preferred a comparative model with another city going through similar changes. Maybe Pittsburgh, PA? Or Wheeling, VA (West Virginia after the Civil War)? Or a southern city like Nashville, TN? I change my mind. I now believe, along with many of my esteemed colleagues, that Mr. Johnson nailed it. While I cannot bring myself to proclaim Rochester as “The Heart and Soul of the United States”, I will acknowledge its “melting pot” atmosphere that supposedly makes America, America. Rochester was<\/em> an American microcosm. Although the city grew rapidly, Johnson alludes his readers to a strong and dignified (albeit brief) history of the area by describing the first land owners, their prominence, and the reform of government. Additionally, as we stated in class, Rochester was a sufficient blend of country folk and city dwellers. The farmers and shopkeepers combined to give Rochester the beliefs and interests of both kinds of people. Furthermore, “Clinton’s Big Ditch”, enabled the city to stay connected with major sea ports and the areas west of the Appalachian Mountains. Rochester was a byproduct of the Erie Canal (Since Ian gets to talk about hometowns, my hometown’s creation and usefulness is similar to that of Rochester. The Virginia and Tennessee railroads linked at Roanoke, and the “Star City” was born). Charles Finney accrued a mass following to believe his teachings of revised Christianity. The white collar increase amongst grocers, lawyers, and boatsmen is an incredible jump from the number of religious men in these professions merely seven years earlier. I also like Johnson’s claim that wealthier men went to church as a political move. I imagine that these men saw a rising interest in religion and wanted to show their constituents that they were part of this good behavior as well. Furthermore, women were given unintentional rights as they were allowed to pray with the men. Finney does mention some of the more traditional church goers were against this practice of intermingling men and women, but as they came to find out, men and women can pray together without satan breathing a fiery wrath upon them. Yet, this step allowed women to gain more respect and “helped to transform [their husbands] into nineteenth century husbands.” (108) The nineteenth century husband swore off alcohol, did not abuse his family members, and continued to work hard. Most of these husbandry social norms continue to this day.\u00a0his, I have done.<\/p>\n

My disagreement with Johnson is that he rarely mentions blacks. He mentions them briefly when describing the barrel making process, a violent encounter with a police officer over gambling, and the African Methodist Church. Johnson does not make a claim (unless I missed it) about an increase or decrease in black religion revival. Maybe this is due to a lack of surviving sources. I think to truly capture an American city, Johnson should have studied the reaction of blacks if possible. This would have been especially interesting because all slaves were freed in New York in 1827 with a majority of them having been freed with the gradual abolition Act of 1817 in the wake of the War of 1812. This new emancipation was an experiment in and of itself, much like Charles Finney’s sermons on initially radical religious teachings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As many in this class can attest, I possess borderline ignorant qualities regarding my stubbornness and argumentativeness (that’s a word). I like to be right. And I like to argue…just to argue. When in the course of human events, however, it becomes necessary for one to readjust his thinking for truthiness and justice. This I … <\/p>\n

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