A Study of Rochester in “A Shopkeeper’s Millennium”: Economy, Society, and Religion

The book “A Shopkeeper’s Millennium” by Paul E. Johnson is a historical review of Rochester, New York, from 1815 through 1837. Johnson used this book to explain the political, cultural, religious, and economic values of the developing city. He used evidence from sources other than his own to support his claims. He wrote the story in chronological order to represent time and to help readers develop their own representation of the town in their own eyes.

Summary of “A Shopkeeper’s Millennium”

Many elements go into the development of a city.

Economy, society, politics, culture, and religion all play a part in building a town. However, Johnson focused on the aspects: economy, society, and religion when making claims. He included details of the workforce and how it affected the common people as well as its effects on the government. Rochester turned into a manufacturing city to support the needs of the town.

The Economic and Social Transformation of Rochester

Rochester was the fastest-growing American community in the 1820s. Everyone was working to provide for themselves and for their families. Many citizens worked to rise through the classes and became “self-made” members of the elite. An example is Thomas Kempshall, who worked to give himself a promising future. “Kempshall was not only poor but (to complete a mythmaker’s dream) an immigrant and an orphan as well” (Johnson 552). This young man was a carpenter who recognized an opportunity. When he heard his boss was retiring, he bought the company and partnered with John Bush. Individuals proved their worth through hard work and dedication. Without the hard work of individuals, Rochester would not have been as successful as it was.

Like any community, social classes divided Rochester. The elite, the middle class, and the working class were the most prominent in Johnson’s book. At the beginning of the book, workers often lived with their masters near their place of work and referred to each other as a family. The families bonded over liquor. The pay included living space, food, and alcohol. This common bonding event turned into a disruption, so the middle class campaigned for the restriction of alcohol. Companies had to get a serving license, but many still did not. The removal of alcohol loosened the bond between workers and masters, creating social tension. Over time, the social community of Rochester split into defined classes.

Religion and Class Division in Early 19th Century Rochester

Religion was another main part of society. Going to church as a Christian was a way to work into the middle class. Churches were not necessarily a way of life for men seeking work but a way to get hired. Johnson found that people who attended church regularly were three times as likely to have a respected future. Religion is not as obvious in present-day societies as they were in the past. The way Johnson explains religion is like how our society explains money. Money determines your schooling, which determines jobs. Similar to Johnson’s point that religion helps determined men find jobs.

Johnson used graphs, pictures, and footnotes to help get his point across. Graphs showed evidence of population and helped categorize the occupation to church-goer percentage. Pictures helped readers see the community’s layout so they could better understand the lifestyle of the people living there. My Kindle included footnotes. With a click, it directed me to a description of the often misunderstood phrase. This helped me understand the terms I did not know, which led me to better understand the entire story.

Johnson made good claims that were easy to read and comprehend. Johnson backed up points with evidence and descriptions that helped make his claims more believable. US history classes should require this book in their courses. Students can include this story in many research papers as a source because it relates well to many topics we have learned during the course.

The story was educational and also entertaining. I most enjoyed the part where we learned about people moving to New York and working to build themselves a future. The book was inspirational because of how they turned an underdeveloped city into the fastest-growing community of the 1820s. The book has good organization techniques, but the topics were sometimes repetitive. This book talks about New York but can also relate to other states. Johnson’s organization method was effective, but he should have avoided repeating topics in other chapters. I recommend this book to educators, students, or anyone interested in learning history.

Reference

1. Johnson, P. E. (1978). A Shopkeeper’s Millennium: Society and Revivals in Rochester, New York, 1815-1837. Hill and Wang. 

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