Armed America: The Remarkable Story of How and Why Guns Became as American as Apple Pie

by Clayton E. Cramer

Book Overview

"For many Americans, guns seem to be a fundamental part of the American experience?and always have been." Grand in scope, rigorous in research, and elegant in presenting the formative years of our country, "Armed America" traces the winding historical trail of United States citizens' passion for firearms. Author and historial Clayton E. Cramer goes back to the source, unearthing first-hand accounts from the colonial times, through the Revolutionary...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595550690
• ISBN13: 9781595550699
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Setting the record straight

Cramer effectively refutes Michael A. Bellesiles' "Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture" demonstrating it to be fraudulent. Cramer gives a well documented and research history of the importance of guns in America. While liberals and anti-gun academia may not like it, guns have been an important part of American culture from the founding of the country.

The Story of Guns in Early America

Clayton E. Cramer has an MA in history from Sonoma State University and has taught history in Boise State University. He published several academic books on history and firearms. His knowledge allowed him to reveal the lies in Bellesiles' book. The 'Acknowledgments' thank those who helped to make this book more entertaining. Cramer notes the changes from the Julian to Gregorian calendar in 1752. Cramer's discussion on Bellesiles' revisionist history begins this educational book. Bellesiles misquoted the historical record to provide false facts for his now discredited book (p.xii). Bellesiles used probate records that were destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake (p.xv)! Another scandal was the dishonesty of university historians (p.xvi). [Upton Sinclair wrote a book in 1922 on corporate control of universities.] Cramer explains the difficulty of evaluating written records from 300 years ago (pp.xviii-xx). Part I deals with Colonial America (1607-1775). America followed the English tradition of a militia, people armed for their protection against Indians and England's enemies (p.3). Gun ownership was required by the 18th century (p.4). Chapter 2 tells of the class and race prohibitions on gun ownership. Some whites were distrusted for religious reasons. Indians were banned from owning guns (Chapter 3) but acquired them through commerce. They were armed for their fights with other tribes (p.42). Chapter 5 tells of the probate records that record personal property; there are problems with these records (p.55). Ads in newspapers may be more reliable, as well as gunpowder import records (p.56). Chapter 5 lists the hunting practices. Murder rates were higher then (p.78). Fights occurred over political concerns (p.80), and tenant uprisings in NY. Pistols were common (p.83). So too were accidents (p.86). Part II documents the Revolutionary War. There are many detailed records on gun ownership. These chapters cover Guns in New England, the Middle Colonies, the South, and the Continental Army and Militias. "Guns were the great equalizers of social status" (p.166). Part III covers the Early Republic (1783-1846). There are chapters on Militias, Ammunition, Pistols, Guns and Sport, and Guns and Violence. The militia system was superior to a regular army in three ways (p.178). They were low-cost, they were plentiful, and they were widespread. The militia was politically reliable (p.180)! There were arguments against a standing army (p.183). Gunpowder mills were common in most states (Chapter 11). Chapter 12 examines the availability of pistols in America. Hunting was very common and universal on the frontier (p.201). Violence was all too common because of an "honor culture" (p.224). Dueling was quite common, the laws against it nearly useless (a jury would not convict if it conducted honorably). "Regulators" enforced the laws (p.229). Violence was common, often because of slander (p.232). [No mention of the rate of violent death in England or Europe.] The

Excellent scholarly work

This is definitely a book for people who enjoy history through original sources. Mr. Cramer brings together a wealth of material that many "professional" historians can't seem to be bothered with.

Eye opening book

Review of Book that Appeared in the March 11, 2007 New York Post Did you know that in New York City, through 1969 virtually all the public high schools had riflery teams? Thousands of students carried their rifles on subways, buses and streets on their way to school, when they went to practice in the afternoon and on their way home. And until 1963, all commercial pilots were required to carry guns and were allowed to carry guns until 1987. Gun laws have certainly changed over time. Today towns such as Kennesaw, Ga., Greenfeld, Idaho and Geuda Springs, Kan., which all require residents to own guns, are considered the oddity. But Clayton Cramer's terrific new book, "Armed America," shows that, in fact, gun ownership has been deeply woven into this country's since the colonial period. Cramer shows that guns aren't inherently the problem. In our day, criminals may have replaced Indians as a danger facing most citizens, but it may also shock many readers to learn how comfortable Americans once were with their guns. In colonial times, as Cramer argues, people didn't own guns just for hunting. Numerous laws mandated that people have guns for personal defense and defense of the community, at home, while traveling and even in church. Heads of households, whether men or women, were required to have a gun at home and fines of up to a month's wages were imposed on those who failed to meet this requirement. In some states such as Maryland, fines were paid directly to inspectors so that authorities had a strong incentive to check. The only people exempt from these rules were Quakers, some indentured servants, or, in the South, blacks. Fear of attack by Indians and England's European enemies meant that people were required to own and carry guns when traveling, though sometimes older people were exempted. At least six colonies required people have guns with them at church. Church officials were required to check parishioners when they arrived for services to ensure they had a gun. Clergymen were required to have guns, too. Contrast that with the political firestorms that erupt these days when states merely let churches decide whether concealed handgun permit holders can carry guns on church property. In our day, only about 45 percent of households own a gun, whereas gun ownership in colonial America was much higher, as measured by probate recirds. Guns were bequeathed to the next generation in about 70 percent of cases. The fascinating firsthand historical accounts that Cramer provides indicate that guns were cheap, readily available and essentially everywhere. Given America's historical amnesia, Cramer's book helps to remind us about that part of our history many now find improbable. John Lott is the author of "The Bias Against Guns."

The Truth Can Be Hard To Swallow

Thomas Jefferson noted (I believe adroitly) that "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." Michael A. Bellesiles "Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture" (2000), argued that over the course of United States history guns were substantially rarer, and more rigorously controlled, than popular culture (and particularly gun-rights advocates) want us to think. For pandering to the vast, far-left-leaning communications/education machine, he was copiously honored and praised for his work; he was even awarded the Bancroft Prize, America's highest award for a history book! Just two years later, Bellesiles' scholarship had been exposed as a sham. This resulted in the loss of his professorship at Emory University. His Bancroft was withdrawn and his publisher removed his book from circulation. More than anyone else, the person who made this all possible was Clayton Cramer. In "Armed America: The Remarkable Story of How and Why Guns Became as American as Apple Pie," Cramer debunks an era of anti-gun myths. He also guides his readers on a survey of surprising history. Cramer truly lays the foundation of America's gun culture bare--and brilliantly supports his position that this aspect of America has contributed mightily to the greatness of the nation. Cramer's book challenges numerous popular conceptions, its scholarship is extremely solid--and its subject is increasingly relevant. It may seem that the needs of society today are increasingly at odds with our Second Amendment rights. However, my sense is that this appearance is more likely to be the result media and academic of craftiness than any true indication of changes in human nature! I almost gave it 5 stars, but I am hesitant to class this book with timeless classics. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it for all readers who cherish freedom (and are over 17 years of age)!