The Kingdom of Matthias is an interesting historical perspective on accounts taking place during a turbulent era in American history. Authors Paul E. Johnson and Sean Wilentz both professors of history brilliantly recapture the forgotten story of Matthias through carefully researching the events and people associated with the Kingdom of Matthias, as shown by the copious amount of footnotes used. Ultimately what Johnson and Wilentz are interested in is discovering what connection Matthews has to the larger history of America. However, unfortunately authors Johnson and Wilentz do not provide a clear argument or a reason as to why this book is important. Rather they establish key points and emphasize on these historical events creating a dazzling …show more content…
Lastly, they trace Matthews to an American tradition of religious cult figures, such as Jim Jones and David Koresh. All of which describes important accounts in the history of Matthews and how it relates to America. Additionally, the authors continue to write in a way that emphasizes their desire to write a rich and narrative style of the story, helping it to flow in a way that is interesting, but informative. Keeping in line with their goal of writing a historical account about Matthews and what connections he has in the history of America. The authors begin by striking a tone that is midway between an objective recitation of facts, and a more engaging storytelling mode. The storyteller’s instinct is evident in …show more content…
The book is very narrative driven and enjoyable to read with many varying contexts described by the authors. Johnson and Wilentz do a great job of showing how the world around Matthias shaped his Kingdom, as well as how the Kingdom was part of the larger evolving world that it existed within. Though there were many other religions around this time in development, the quaintness of the story of Matthias illuminates a very vivid illustration, in addition to describing the failures of the religious revival as other religions succeeded. Thus, allowing for a more complete idea of the religion and society during this era. This way of describing events helped in allowing for a more enjoyable read and left a very positive experience. Now while the Kingdom of Matthias was a very enjoyable and well written book the lack of a clear claim or argument as to why I should believe what they say and why this is important left a very sour taste upon finishing the book. The authors do an excellent job of describing and illustrating what events are occurring, and how, such as the tales of Robert Matthews, and how he became Matthias, but never
Matthias was seen as a very powerful man to the people who were members of his Kingdom. He felt it was his job to bind up the broken hearted and gather the faithful people. His job was to bring “the Holy Word of the one true Lord, the Word of God and the Father” (87). His mission was the establish the reign of Truth and redeem the world from devils, prophesying women, and beaten men. Elijah Pierson
The book, John Adams, by David McCullough, is a powerfully written biography of one of our nation’s greatest heroes. This biography explores Adams’ life in great depth, unveiling a side to his life unbeknownst to those who have never studied his life in great detail. Through diary entries, letters, and various other documents, the reader grasps a sense of what Adams’ day to day life was like, and is also able to grasp the enormity of his lifetime accomplishments.
Colonial life in America was a time of many victories and failings. It was a learning experience for the people of the time. In a A People’s History of the United States and A Patriot’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn and Larry Schweikart tell contrasting stories of the issues of colonial life.
Throughout history, historians have spun events in order to alter and adjust others’ views on the event. This is especially true during Colonial times and the time leading up the American Revolution. During this time, information about the colonist’s events was passed on through word of mouth. One such man that was notorious for this was George Robert Twelves Hewes. Hewes was a Boston shoemaker, who at the age of twenty-eight witnessed four of his closest friends shot to death by The British red coats; he also participated in many of the key events of the Revolutionary crisis.1 Hewes recollections of the events that took place were passed along in the monograph The Shoemaker and the Tea Party: Memory and the American Revolution by Alfred
David O. Stewart, by profession, is a lawyer with a resume that includes everything from arguing appeals at the Supreme Court level to serving as a law court to the acclaimed Junior Powell. But in writing The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution (specifically, I read the First Simon & Schuster trade paperback edition May 2008, copyrighted in 2007), he uses that experience in law to prove himself a gifted storyteller. Two hundred sixty-four pages long, this United States history nonfiction book does indeed have the substance to engage the reader throughout. It has special features that include two appendices featuring the elector system and the actual constitution of 1787, author’s notes, suggested further reading, acknowledgments and an index (which escalate the total length of the book to three hundred forty-nine pages long).
In offering alternative interpretations of the origins of the Constitution, the author accomplishes his secondary purpose, to make the reader challenge what they know about the framing of the Constitution. Holton details the rebellion of the “Unruly Americans” against the state and national governments, using Adonijah Mathews as an ultimate example of the “common man.” Mathews’ views are presented in order to contrast the views of James Madison, whom it seems the author
Wacaster’s book, which is (as the title suggests) centered on Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, is very obviously intended to the common-level, “average” audience. Wacaster does not delve into complex conversations of textual variants, manuscript discrepancies, and disputations of authorship, nor does he use vocabulary or phraseology that is above the understanding of most individuals. Rather, Wacaster is simple, straightforward, and effective in communicating his points on the wonderful book of Galatians. With many commentaries that are written at a graduate and scholarly level, a more basic approach is much appreciated and needed.
By the middle of the 1700’s, a significant organization took place. From New England to Georgia, different groups of Baptists began to form churches. They had only one doctrinal requirement that united them, i.e., the believer’s baptism by full immersion in water; also, Baptists then had different theological doctrinal beliefs. Notwithstanding, in the 1700’s, Baptist leaders sought to unify and homogenize the Baptist theology; they founded colleges and formed associations. However, the cause of “religious liberty,” was also a unanimous and significant characteristic that united the majority of Baptists. Their participation within their communities distinguished from other denominations. The Baptists were not contending for tolerance but for absolute “religious liberty.” Theirs demand was not for their right only but for the right of all dissenters and non-conformists as well. Some historians affirm that religious liberty in America was accomplished due to the diligence of the American Baptist, which now is proven to be the greatest contribution to American science and statecraft.”11
The Kingdom of Matthias, written by Paul E. Johnson and Sean Wilentz, examines the story of the self proclaimed prophet Matthias, formerly known as Robert Matthews. They tell the story of how Matthias built his kingdom based on his religious beliefs related to the Second Great Awakening. The Second Great Awakening was a religious movement that took place during the early nineteenth century. During this time period women played the role as the caregivers who stayed at home with the children while their husbands were out working. However, it wasn’t until the Second Great Awakening that women began to play a more dominant role in society, especially in the church. Matthias was one of the main people who was directly impacted by the effects of the Second Great Awakening and the power it gave to women. Throughout Matthias’ life he had numerous troubles with women and this continued to show throughout the reign of his kingdom. Johnson and Wilentz saw that the empowerment of women in the Second Great Awakening was a factor in the demise of Matthias’ demise Kingdom. Matthias refuses the ideas of the Second Great Awakening by making sure that women in his kingdom are subordinate and condemns those who are not. [inserts thesis statement]
Kingdom of Matthias As a United States American culture there are many possibilities for a cult like Matthias to occur again, this is contributed by not only a market-oriented American culture but also by tendencies that are present in every society. We have rights and freedoms given to us by our United States Constitution, including the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. These freedoms mean that anyone has the right to speak publicly about their religious beliefs, and we as citizens also have the right to believe what is being said and even follow it if we choose to do so. This is how many different branches of religions come about; some of these religions include Mormons and
America’s history is rich and full of countless heroes, scandals, and incredible stories. Perhaps one of the most interesting of those stories is that of Andrew Jackson’s. To some, he was a hero, but to others, he was their worst enemy. Being raised in the mountains of the Carolinas, he became the first “backcountry president” of the United States (Wilentz, 13). His fame, though, began years before his presidency.
The Kingdom of Matthias by Paul E. Johnson and Sean Wilentz is a story of the rise and fall of a religious cult established by Robert Matthews (Matthias). Within his kingdom, Matthias and his followers, abided by Matthias, believes of the subjugation of women by men. Even though at the time the cult was in existence the United States was experiencing two great movements that urged the forward progression of women, the Market Revolution and the Second Great Awakening. Two women in particular are mentioned in Johnson and Wilentz’ book that were really suppressed by Matthias and his subjects. One was Isabella van Wagenen, the slave that worked in Mount Zion and even Matthias’ own daughter Isabella Matthews Laisdell. The Kingdom of Matthias
To begin, Simon has compared and contrasted the family histories of FDR and Hughes extensively in the first few chapters of his book. Hughes was the son of Welsh immigrant David Charles Hughes (Pg. 9) who upon moving to the United States, in the 1850’s, worked as a reverend in a parish later marrying Mary
As his life began, Robert Matthews seemed to have had the makings of a radical, religious man. In 1788, he was born into the religious New England Scottish town of Colia, where his family belonged to a Scottish Presbyterian sect known as the Anti-Burgher Secession Church. As a young boy, he began with odd visions and dreams that he claimed where to be from God, “In 1835, an enterprising Manhattan journalist disclosed that, as a boy, Robert Matthews had his own conversations with supernatural spirits and impressed his friends with feats of clairvoyance (56).”
Often times in life people will find a specific time period that is fascinating to them. During the interview with The John Hopkins University Press “An Interview With Kerry James Marshall” by Charles H. Rowell in the winter of nineteen