Book Review: American Creed: Philanthropy and the Rise of Civil Society, 1700-1865

This book review analyzes "American Creed: Philanthropy and the Rise of Civil Society, 1700-1865" by Kathleen D. McCarthy. The review highlights McCarthy’s selective coverage, focusing on philanthropic and reform groups of unenfranchised women and African Americans who used petition and protest. It discusses how these organizations, unlike Franklin’s associational experiments, often served as "engines of contention," particularly in the struggles against the American Colonization Society and early female activism. The review also notes McCarthy’s tracing of charities funded by capitalist enterprise or government subsidies, and the emerging distinction between two versions of civil society leading to the Civil War.