Episode June 30, 2025 25 min 11s

Invisible Sovereign: Imagining Public Opinion from the Revolution to Reconstruction (New Studies in American Intellectual)

Explores the evolving concept of "public opinion" in America from the late 18th century through the mid-19th century. Initially a dissertation, the author traces how this idea transformed alongside societal shifts, including the rise of political parties, financial systems, religious movements, and the burgeoning press. The text examines how public opinion was understood and utilized by different groups, from Founding Fathers like Hamilton and Madison to religious figures and those involved in sectional conflicts leading to the Civil War. It further details the complex relationship between public opinion, fear, violence, and social control, highlighting how definitions varied between North and South. Ultimately, the work illustrates the contested and dynamic nature of public opinion's meaning in shaping early American political and social thought.

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