William Graham Sumner was een invloedrijke Amerikaanse sociaal wetenschapper die diep geworteld was in het klassiek liberalisme. Als de eerste hoogleraar sociologie van het land in Yale, had hij een diepgaande impact op zijn studenten en het academische landschap. Zijn uitgebreide geschriften bestreken de Amerikaanse geschiedenis, economische geschiedenis, politieke theorie en antropologie, en boden een breed sociaalwetenschappelijk perspectief. Als voorstander van laissez-faire economie en vrije markten was Sumner een uitgesproken tegenstander van imperialisme, waarbij hij de belangen van de "vergeten man" behartigde en een blijvende stempel drukte op het Amerikaanse conservatisme.
Focusing on Robert Morris' pivotal role in financing the American Revolution, this volume delves into his efforts to secure international loans, his subsequent unpopularity, and resignation. It details key events from 1781, including the Bank War, the Commercial Convention, and his tenure in the U.S. Senate. The narrative highlights the complexities of Morris' life, contrasting his significant contributions to the nation's finances with his personal struggles, culminating in three years of imprisonment for debts.
Focusing on Robert Morris' pivotal role in financing the American Revolution, this volume explores his early life and public service up to 1781. As one of the wealthiest merchants, Morris became instrumental in managing the treasury, ensuring soldier payments, and satisfying creditors. His influence extended to significant non-military enterprises during a critical period for the young nation. The narrative concludes as Morris is appointed the Financier, highlighting the challenges he faced in a tumultuous historical context.
The book delves into the concept of folkways, which refers to the habits and customs that shape societal behavior. Sumner analyzes how these social norms influence various aspects of life, including morality, law, and social order. As a pivotal figure in sociology, he provides a foundational understanding of how folkways operate within different cultures and their role in maintaining societal cohesion. This early work remains significant for its insights into the interplay between individual actions and collective customs.
William Graham Sumner is the “forgotten man” of American intellectual history. Too often dismissed or only superficially understood, his interpretations are now attracting closer scrutiny and appreciation. He is remembered chiefly as one of the founding fathers of sociology. Sumner’s analysis of the relation between the individual and society is deeper and more sophisticated than is commonly thought. For students of American history and politics, the essays reveal the complexity of American political and social thought. Robert C. Bannister is Scheuer Professor Emeritus of History at Swarthmore College.
Focusing on individual rights versus state control, this 1883 treatise remains relevant today. Sumner emphasizes the significance of the "Forgotten Man" in shaping social and economic progress, advocating for personal liberty against organized pressure groups. His insights challenge the balance of power between individuals and the state, making a compelling case for the importance of personal agency in societal development.
Robert Morris' tombstone states that he was "The Financier"; officially, however, he was Superintendent of Finance. Whatever his title, Robert Morris played an integral role in financing the American Revolution, and Yale Professor William G. Sumner examines Morris' life and actions to enhance our understanding of the finances of the young nation.In Volume II of a two-volume work, Sumner begins with the events of 1781, when Morris anticipated receiving loans from Spain. From there, Sumner looks at Morris' attempts to secure loans from other nations, his unpopularity and resignation, and the organization of the treasury. Sumner also covers the Bank War of 1785-1786, the Commercial Convention and the Constitutional Convention, Morris' career in the U.S. Senate, and his social standing and business dealings. What should be noted is that while Morris helped to finance the Revolution, he spent three years in prison for personal debts.WILLIAM GRAHAM SUMNER was a professor of political and social science at Yale University and became known as a Social Darwinist and advocate of the laissez faire principle in economics. Besides writing a number of books on sociology, history, and economics, he was also influential in the movement to modernize the American university system.
Robert Morris' tombstone states that he was "The Financier"; officially, however, he was Superintendent of Finance. Whatever his title, Robert Morris played an integral role in financing the American Revolution, and Yale Professor William G. Sumner examines Morris' life and actions to enhance our understanding of the finances of the young nation.In Volume II of a two-volume work, Sumner begins with the events of 1781, when Morris anticipated receiving loans from Spain. From there, Sumner looks at Morris' attempts to secure loans from other nations, his unpopularity and resignation, and the organization of the treasury. Sumner also covers the Bank War of 1785-1786, the Commercial Convention and the Constitutional Convention, Morris' career in the U.S. Senate, and his social standing and business dealings. What should be noted is that while Morris helped to finance the Revolution, he spent three years in prison for personal debts.WILLIAM GRAHAM SUMNER was a professor of political and social science at Yale University and became known as a Social Darwinist and advocate of the laissez faire principle in economics. Besides writing a number of books on sociology, history, and economics, he was also influential in the movement to modernize the American university system.
