BEHOLD! A FABRIC NOW TO FREEDOM REAR'D
By: James Trenchard
Published in 1788
"Behold! A Fabric Now To Freedom Rear'd" by James Trenchard is a image that was published in the Columbian Magazine in 1788. It was made to commemorate the ratification of the new Constitution of the United States by 11 of the 13 states. Trenchard created this image to show people that even though the new nation of the United States of America is strong and has a great future ahead of it, there are dark clouds on the horizon, and the United States is not quite as united as it seems...........
For instance,
* This building is the United States. We know it is because in bold letters are the words "SACRED TO LIBERTY JUSTICE AND PEACE". There are 3 statues on top to represent it.These are the most important concepts to America.
*Look at the 3rd column from the left. The one the boy angel is pointing to. He is trying to show us that there are 2 cracks in this column. These cracks signify the 2 states that DID NOT ratify the Constitution, Rhode Island and North Carolina. Though the building looks strong, we cannot ignore these cracks that might undermine its strength.
*See the brilliant burst of light by the side of the building! This signifies hope and a new beginning.....but do you see the dark clouds directly above it? These signify possible problems in the future.
*The country is young with a (mainly) bright future ahead of it. The muse of history on the right is preparing to write the history of this new country.
In today's America, the concepts of Liberty, Justice and Peace have endured over time and remain sacred to the national psyche. There are still cracks in our building, but most Americans choose to see and hope for a bright future as evidenced by this modern day meme. Americans of the 18th century were no different from Americans of the 21st century. The American Dream has just expanded a bit to include a few more material items.
IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, THE MEANING
OF THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS GONE FROM WORKING HARD TO MAKE A LIVING TO FIND HAPPINESS BY OWNING MATERIALISTIC ITEMS SUCH AS OWNING A NICE HOME AND CAR, A WELL-PAID JOB, A FAMILY INCLUDING A MOTHER, A FATHER, AND PERHAPS 2.5 RATION OF CHILDREN, AND HAVING A COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT.
References:
Beaumont, Elizabeth. "The Civic Constitution: Civic Visions and Struggles in the Path Toward Constitutional Democracy".
Oxford University Press, 2014
Modern Day de Tocqueville. "Dream Vs. Reality" . www.modern-de-moni.weebly.com
Park, Benjamin E. "American Nationalisms: Imagining Union in the Age of Revolutions, 1783-1833".
Cambridge University Press, 2018
Peters, Greg and Connie, "ART OF THE PRINT". www.artoftheprint.com
Slauter, Eric. "The State as a Work: The Cultural Origins of the Constitution".
University of Chicago Press, 2009