A Dream of the Judgment Day

Book excerpt: The United States has long thought of itself as exceptional--a nation destined to lead the world into a glorious future. But what is at the root of these convictions? John Howard Smith's A Dream of the Judgment Day explores the origins of beliefs about the biblical end of the world, and how this belief led to the idea that the United States is an exceptional nation with a unique destiny to fulfill. However, these beliefs implicitly and explicitly excluded African Americans and American Indians because they didn't fit white Anglo-Saxon ideals, while women and marginal groups were likewise influential in ways that have not been adequately explored. Featuring a broadly diverse cast of historical figures, A Dream of the Judgment Day synthesizes more than forty years of scholarship into a compelling and challenging portrait of early America.