Fountaindale Public Library

Joseph Smith for President, the prophet, the assassins, and the fight for American religious freedom, Spencer W. McBride

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

individual biography

mapsplatesillustrations

index present

non fiction

Joseph Smith for President

bibliography

1184236574

Spencer W. McBride

the prophet, the assassins, and the fight for American religious freedom

"In 1844, Joseph Smith, the controversial founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had amassed a national following of some 25,000 believers-and a militia of some 2,500 men. In this year, his priority was protecting the lives and civil rights of his people. Having failed to win the support of any of the presidential contenders for these efforts, Smith launched his own renegade campaign for the White House, one that would end with his assassination at the hands of an angry mob. Smith ran on a platform that called for the total abolition of slavery, the closure of the country's penitentiaries, the reestablishment of a national bank to stabilize the economy, and most importantly an expansion of protections for religious minorities. Spencer W. McBride tells the story of Smith's quixotic but consequential run for the White House and shows how his calls for religious freedom helped to shape the American political system we know today"--, Provided by publisher

Introduction : Religious intolerance in the "Land of the Free" -- A lesson in political negotiations -- Shattered American idealism -- A city-state on a hill -- The specter of Missouri -- Mobocracy -- Presidential hopefuls -- A political tract -- The political kingdom of God -- Electioneering missionaries -- Vice Presidents and protest candidates -- Convention season -- American royalty -- More conventions -- Assassination -- Aftermath -- Conclusion : Systemic religious inequality

adult