Chants Democratic: New York City and the Rise of the American Working Class, 1788-1850

Chants Democratic is a fascinating reinterpretation of the origins and development of our nation's working class, as seen through the politics, culture, and ideas of New York City during the Jacksonian period. Here, Wilentz explores the dramatic social and intellectual changes that accompanied early industrialization in New York. Wilentz examines the significant roles played by immigration, religion, and women in the formation of new social classes. Using court records, ceremonial speeches, and art to illuminate the changes of the period, Chants Democratic presents a rich and detailed portrait of the social life, political battles, and cultural development in the emerging American metropolis.

Sean Wilentz is at Princeton University.