Emotions in the Us During the Long Nineteenth-Century: Volume I: 1800-1865

This collection of primary sources examines the history of emotions in the United States, spanning the years 1800-1865. This period was filled with dramatic political, social and economic changes, including the development of a new national identity, the spread of chattel slavery, the rise of capitalism, the surge of religious revivalism, military and settler expansion into Native American, Mexican, and British lands, and the Civil War. While these events have been well studied, this collection explores these upheavals using the lens of the history of emotions. The volumes bring together a rich group of primary sources demonstrating how Americans responded to these large public events. It also includes sources that trace the more private and subjective experiences of daily life during the 19th century, for the era was witness to significant transformations in ideals of family and romantic love, conceptions of honour and courage, anger and indignation, selfishness and greed. It also was a period when new emotions like homesickness and boredom appeared. This fascinating collection of materials, alongside extensive editorial commentary, will be of great interest to students of American History and the History of Emotions.

Susan J. Matt is Presidential Distinguished Professor of History at Weber State University, and serves as the University’s Director of Interdisciplinary Collaborations. Her research has been supported by funding from the Mellon Foundation, Duke University, Radcliffe College, and Yale University.