Overview

“Kann's latest tour de force explores the ambivalence, during the founding of our nation, about whether political freedom should augur sexual freedom. Tracing the roots of patriarchal sexual repression back to revolutionary America, Kann asks highly contemporary questions about the boundaries between public and private life, suggesting, provocatively, that political and sexual freedom should go hand in hand. This is a must-read for those interested in the interwining of politics, public life, and sexuality.” —Ben Agger, University of Texas at Arlington The American Revolution was fought in the name of liberty. In popular imagination, the Revolution stands for the triumph of populism and the death of patriarchal elites. But this is not the case, argues Mark E. Kann. Rather, in the aftermath of the Revolution, America developed a society and system of laws that kept patriarchal authority alive and well—especially when it came to the sex lives of citizens. In Taming Passion for the Public Good, Kann contends that that despite the rhetoric of classical liberalism, the founding generation did not trust ordinary citizens with extensive liberty. Through the policing of sex, elites sought to maintain control of individuals' private lives, ensuring that citizens would be productive, moral, and orderly in the new nation. New American elites applauded traditional marriages in which men were the public face of the family and women managed the home. They frowned on interracial and interclass sexual unions. They saw masturbation as evidence of a lack of self-control over one’s passions, and they considered prostitution the result of aggressive female sexuality. Both were punishable offenses. By seeking to police sex, elites were able to keep alive what Kann calls a “resilient patriarchy.” Under the guise of paternalism, they were able simultaneously to retain social control while espousing liberal principles, with the goal of ultimately molding the country into the new American ideal: a moral and orderly citizenry that voluntarily did what was best for the public good.

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Reviews

Mark E. Kann's latest book provides important insights into the creation of patriarchy and of sexual morality in the Early Republic. Kann deftly engages with the contradictions and dilemmas posed by new freedoms for men and women unleashed by the Revolution conflicting with an emerging patriarchy that sought social control and moral order. Kann's book is a vital and stimulating contribution to our understanding of gender and masculinity in the Early Republic. -Kevin White,University of Sussex Kann evaluates the politics of sex in seven thematically arranged chapters centered on five questions regarding the authority of elites; the abuses of blatant favoritism, a typical situation is thus: whether in admission to an academically selective college, in selecting candidates for judgeship or cabinet appointment, in being hired as a CEO, or in choosing an award-winning book, the social fact is that often most applicants are qualified, perhaps highly qualified. The corollary is that even talented people can be left out in high-stakes competition. That may not be the way of the world, but as Kann's excellent book documents, it is the American way. -The Journal of Southern History ...very clear, well organized... -Elizabeth H. Pleck,Law and History Review The author expertly incorporates the recent historiography of antebellum sexuality into his analysis. In fact, the major strength of Taming Passion for Public Good is Kann's cogent discussion of monographs by Clare Lyons, Richard Godbeer, Helen Lefkowitz, and other scholars. -Journal of Social History ...Provocative and compelling...Kann's work is a must-read for both specialists and those looking for an introduction to issues of sex, law, and the state. Kann's analysis of the theoretical and legal basis upon which the state policed sex is sophisticated and nuanced in a way that rewards close reading. His thesis is convincing, and Kann draws from an impressive array of secondary works...a feat. -Katie Hemphill, Commonplace Review In Taming Passion for the Public Good...Mark E. Kann effectively demonstrates that officials successfully portrayed themselves as caring paternalists whose authority was 'necessary to achieve and secure the perpetuation of liberalism.' -Journal of American Culture Kann's latest tour de force explores the ambivalence, during the founding of our nation, about whether political freedom should augur sexual freedom. Tracing the roots of patriarchal sexual repression back to revolutionary America, Kann asks highly contemporary questions about the boundaries between public and private life, suggesting, provocatively, that political and sexual freedom should go hand in hand. This is a must-read for those interested in the interwining of politics, public life, and sexuality. -Ben Agger,University of Texas at Arlington

Mark E. Kann's latest book provides important insights into the creation of patriarchy and of sexual morality in the Early Republic. Kann deftly engages with the contradictions and dilemmas posed by new freedoms for men and women unleashed by the Revolution conflicting with an emerging patriarchy that sought social control and moral order. Kann's book is a vital and stimulating contribution to our understanding of gender and masculinity in the Early Republic. Kevin White, University of Sussex Kann's latest tour de force explores the ambivalence, during the founding of our nation, about whether political freedom should augur sexual freedom. Tracing the roots of patriarchal sexual repression back to revolutionary America, Kann asks highly contemporary questions about the boundaries between public and private life, suggesting, provocatively, that political and sexual freedom should go hand in hand. This is a must-read for those interested in the intertwining of politics, public life, and sexuality. Ben Agger, University of Texas at Arlington

Mark E. Kann's latest book provides important insights into the creation of patriarchy and of sexual morality in the Early Republic. Kann deftly engages with the contradictions and dilemmas posed by new freedoms for men and women unleashed by the Revolution conflicting with an emerging patriarchy that sought social control and moral order. Kann's book is a vital and stimulating contribution to our understanding of gender and masculinity in the Early Republic. -Kevin White, University of Sussex

The author expertly incorporates the recent historiography of antebellum sexuality into his analysis. In fact, the major strength of Taming Passion for Public Good is Kann's cogent discussion of monographs by Clare Lyons, Richard Godbeer, Helen Lefkowitz, and other scholars. -Journal of Social History Kann evaluates the politics of sex in seven thematically arranged chapters centered on five questions regarding the authority of elites; the abuses of blatant favoritism, a typical situation is thus: whether in admission to an academically selective college, in selecting candidates for judgeship or cabinet appointment, in being hired as a CEO, or in choosing an award-winning book, the social fact is that often most applicants are qualified, perhaps highly qualified. The corollary is that even talented people can be left out in high-stakes competition. That may not be the way of the world, but as Kann's excellent book documents, it is the American way. -The Journal of Southern History ...very clear, well organized... -Elizabeth H. Pleck,Law and History Review Kann's latest tour de force explores the ambivalence, during the founding of our nation, about whether political freedom should augur sexual freedom. Tracing the roots of patriarchal sexual repression back to revolutionary America, Kann asks highly contemporary questions about the boundaries between public and private life, suggesting, provocatively, that political and sexual freedom should go hand in hand. This is a must-read for those interested in the interwining of politics, public life, and sexuality. -Ben Agger,University of Texas at Arlington ...Provocative and compelling...Kann's work is a must-read for both specialists and those looking for an introduction to issues of sex, law, and the state. Kann's analysis of the theoretical and legal basis upon which the state policed sex is sophisticated and nuanced in a way that rewards close reading. His thesis is convincing, and Kann draws from an impressive array of secondary works...a feat. -Katie Hemphill, Commonplace Review Mark E. Kann's latest book provides important insights into the creation of patriarchy and of sexual morality in the Early Republic. Kann deftly engages with the contradictions and dilemmas posed by new freedoms for men and women unleashed by the Revolution conflicting with an emerging patriarchy that sought social control and moral order. Kann's book is a vital and stimulating contribution to our understanding of gender and masculinity in the Early Republic. -Kevin White,University of Sussex

Author Information

Mark E. Kann, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and History, held the USC Associates Chair in Social Science at the University of Southern California. He is the author of Republic of Men (NYU Press, 1998) and Punishment, Prisons, and Patriarchy (NYU Press, 2005).

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