NEW YORK (AP) — Daniel Walker Howe, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, passed away on December 25 at the age of 88. Howe was renowned for his book, “What Hath God Wrought,” which provided a compelling account of the technological and social transformations occurring in the United States during the first half of the 19th century. A spokesperson for the University of California, Los Angeles, where he served as a professor emeritus, confirmed his death.
In 2008, Howe was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for “What Hath God Wrought,” which is a significant part of Oxford University Press’ extensive series on American history. This series also features other Pulitzer Prize winners, including David M. Kennedy’s “Freedom from Fear” and James M. McPherson’s “The Battle Cry of Freedom.” Howe's book, spanning 900 pages, chronicles events from 1815 to 1848, covering the aftermath of the War of 1812 up to the emergence of organized feminism in the United States at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848.
In his sweeping narrative, Howe examines the United States' westward expansion under the doctrine of “Manifest Destiny.” He details the political ascent of Andrew Jackson, the emergence of modern political parties, and the significant societal shifts that led to an impending conflict over slavery. His analysis resonates with contemporary themes, highlighting how similar changes were faced by Americans in the 21st century.
During the lead-up to the Civil War, the U.S. experienced substantial industrialization and division, accompanied by faster dissemination of information. The title of Howe's book, “What Hath God Wrought,” refers to the first telegraph message sent in 1844, a symbol of the rapid changes occurring in communication and infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and canals. Howe articulated that resistance to these “internal improvements” was often rooted in a fear that such innovations would disrupt the established order, particularly regarding slavery.
In a review for The New Yorker, historian Jill Lepore acknowledged Howe's work as “a heroic attempt at synthesizing a century and a half of historical writing.” Interestingly, the title “What Hath God Wrought” was not initially the first choice for the Oxford series, reflecting the historical debates and scholarly tensions of the time. Howe’s book emerged partly as a counterpoint to Charles Sellers’ acclaimed work, “The Market Revolution: Jacksonian America, 1815-1846,” which portrayed technology as a force that disrupted traditional rural communities.
Howe, who had studied under Sellers at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1960s, presented a different perspective by asserting that innovation often promoted democratic values rather than destroying old social ties. He dedicated “What Hath God Wrought” to John Quincy Adams, contrasting the patrician rival of Andrew Jackson and emphasizing the moral implications of historical progress.
In his reflections about writing the book, Howe expressed his desire to engage general readers beyond the academic audience, aiming to present an old-fashioned narrative enriched by contemporary scholarship. He emphasized that history should be viewed as an ongoing dialogue about defining success through military, economic, and moral achievements. As he wrote, by 1848, the greatness of the American people appeared manifest in their continental expansion, while later meanings of greatness could be found in the preservation of the Union and advancements in civil rights.
In addition to “What Hath God Wrought,” Howe authored other significant works such as “The Unitarian Conscience: Harvard Moral Philosophy 1805-1861,” “The Political Culture of the American Whigs,” and “Making the American Self: Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln.” His academic career began at Yale University in 1966 and included tenures at UCLA from 1973 to 1993 and at Oxford University from 1993 to 2002. He married Sandra Fay Shumway in 1961 and had three children: Christopher, Rebecca, and Stephen.
Born in Ogden, Utah, and raised in Denver, Howe had a lifelong fascination with history. He recalled being captivated by tales of the past since age six, notably remembering stories about Hannibal's crossing of the Alps. Howe earned a degree in history and literature from Harvard University before receiving his doctorate in history from Berkeley in 1966. His academic journey culminated in “What Hath God Wrought,” whereby he sought to delineate the historical trajectory of America as one shaped by the interplay of technology and morality.
