Daniel Walker Howe, a distinguished historian and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, passed away at the age of 88 on December 25. His notable work, “What Hath God Wrought,” has been recognized as a seminal chronicle detailing significant technological and social transformations in the United States during the early 19th century. Howe was a professor emeritus at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he had a long-standing academic career.
Howe received the Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for “What Hath God Wrought,” which was part of the esteemed Oxford University Press series on American history. This series also includes works by renowned authors such as David M. Kennedy, whose book “Freedom from Fear” tackles the Great Depression and World War II, along with James M. McPherson's acclaimed narrative of the Civil War, “The Battle Cry of Freedom.”
In his expansive 900-page volume, Howe covers the pivotal years from 1815 to 1848, marking the end of the War of 1812 and leading to the onset of organized feminism in the U.S., represented by the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. He meticulously explores the theme of Manifest Destiny as the young nation expanded westward. Through his research, Howe highlights the emergence of Andrew Jackson and the evolution of political parties, as well as the continual and escalating discourse surrounding slavery, which would ultimately lead to the Civil War.
The significance of Howe's work lies in its relevance to contemporary issues, as he illustrated how the U.S. was grappling with change akin to that faced in the 21st century. In the lead-up to the Civil War, the nation was becoming increasingly industrialized and interconnected, while also experiencing deep divisions. The title of his book, “What Hath God Wrought,” references the first telegraph message sent in 1844, encapsulating the rapid exchange of information. With advances in printing and mail services, literature and news became more accessible, and the infrastructure was substantially modernized through public works initiatives.
However, Howe also noted the resistance to these advancements, particularly in the South, where leading politicians feared that such “internal improvements” would threaten the institution of slavery. In his work, he argues that such opposition often stemmed from a wider apprehension regarding social change and the potential destabilization of the existing social order, saying, “Internal improvements could be opposed for reasons that had nothing to do with their economic effects.”
In a review by historian Jill Lepore, published in The New Yorker in 2007, she recognized “What Hath God Wrought” as a significant synthesis of historical literature. The book was seen as a counterpoint to Charles Sellers' earlier work, The Market Revolution: Jacksonian America, 1815-1846, which portrayed technological advances as disruptors of traditional rural communities. Howe, a former student of Sellers, diverged from this perspective, advocating that innovation could act as a facilitator of democracy and societal progression.
Howe's scholarly contributions include other significant titles such as The Unitarian Conscience: Harvard Moral Philosophy 1805-1861, The Political Culture of the American Whigs, and Making the American Self: Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln. His academic career began at Yale University in 1966 and included positions at UCLA from 1973 to 1993 and Oxford University from 1993 to 2002. He was married to Sandra Fay Shumway in 1961 and had three children: Christopher, Rebecca, and Stephen.
Born in Ogden, Utah, and raised in Denver, Howe developed a passion for history at a young age, inspired by tales told by his father. He pursued his academic studies in history and literature at Harvard University, where he earned both his undergraduate and doctoral degrees, the latter from the University of California, Berkeley in 1966.
When asked to contribute to the Oxford series, Howe expressed excitement at the opportunity to write for a broader audience beyond just historians. His intention was to craft a narrative that combined historical storytelling with recent scholarly insights, focusing on the ongoing debate regarding the true measures of American greatness, whether through economic power or moral progress.
Howe's insightful reflections on American history, particularly in relation to technological advancements and social movements, underscore the complexity of progress as a historical narrative. His work adds depth to our understanding of America's evolution through the prism of time and its relevant implications for future generations.
