Civilizing America

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Over the past thirty years, there has been increased interest in social analysis related to conduct and manners, particularly among historians of early modern Europe and earlier periods before the Age of Democratic Revolution. This collection of essays expands the inquiry to the American context, spanning from the colonial era to the present. Scholars from the U.S. and Europe examine the perspectives of writers and social commentators, critically assessing the role of manners in American society. They explore whether manners are merely remnants of Old World aristocracy rendered obsolete in the New World or if they still influence modern democratic societies in a different form. The essays question the perceived lack of a refined system of manners in the U.S., once viewed by nineteenth-century novelists as a sign of cultural decline, and whether this absence reflects a new, authentic personality. They also consider if the prevalence of a relaxed style in the twentieth century represents newfound freedom of self-expression or if it indicates that alternative disciplinary systems have replaced traditional manners. Overall, the essays highlight that discussions of American manners and civility have been significant in understanding the social dynamics shaping modern democracy throughout history.