40 pages • 1 hour read
Paul E. JohnsonA Shopkeeper’s Millennium: Society and Revivals in Rochester, New York, 1815–1837
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1978A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In A Shopkeeper's Millennium, historian Paul E. Johnson analyzes the social factors that led to Rochester, New York's religious revival in the 1830s, driven by economic and class tensions. The book explores how industrialization, political disputes, and class divisions spurred temperance and Sabbatarian movements, ultimately inviting minister Charles Finney to preach. Finney’s revival successfully united denominations, appealed to the middle class, and led to increased evangelical activism, with employers pushing workers towards church membership, thus intertwining religious fervor with economic discipline. The narrative includes discussions of problematic drinking behaviors.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Paul E. Johnson's A Shopkeeper's Millennium is praised for its detailed exploration of the intersection between religious revival and social change in early 19th-century America. Readers appreciate its thorough research and engaging narrative. However, some find the analysis occasionally dense and challenging to follow. Overall, it is a compelling study that blends history and sociology effectively.
Who Should Read A Shopkeeper's Millennium?
A reader fascinated by early American history, religious movements, and socio-economic change will enjoy A Shopkeeper's Millennium by Paul E. Johnson. Similar to Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, it appeals to those intrigued by the interplay between religion and societal transformation in antebellum America.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
History: U.S.
Education
History: World
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