David Hackett Fischer
Encyclopedia
David Hackett Fischer is University Professor and Earl Warren Professor of History at Brandeis University
. Fischer's major works have tackled everything from large macroeconomic and cultural trends (Albion's Seed
, The Great Wave) to narrative histories of significant events (Paul Revere's Ride, Washington's Crossing) to explorations of historiography
(Historians' Fallacies, in which he coined the term Historian's fallacy
).
He is best known for two major works: Albion's Seed
and Washington's Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History). In Albion's Seed, he argued that core aspects of American culture stem from four British folkways and regional cultures and that their interaction and conflict have been decisive factors in U.S. political and historical development. In the the Pulitzer Prize
-winning Washington's Crossing, Fischer provides a narrative of George Washington
's leadership of the Continental Army
during the winter of 1776-1777 during the American Revolutionary War
.
In 2008 he published Champlain's Dream, an exploration of Samuel de Champlain
, the French explorer and founder of Quebec City. It was a runner-up in the 2009 Cundill Prize
.
Fischer received a B.A. from Princeton University
and a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University
. He received the 2006 Irving Kristol Award
from the American Enterprise Institute
. He was admitted as an honorary member of The Society of the Cincinnati in 2006.
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
. Fischer's major works have tackled everything from large macroeconomic and cultural trends (Albion's Seed
Albion's Seed
Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America is a 1989 book by David Hackett Fischer which describes four regional British cultures or ‘folkways’ which, the author argues, were transplanted to North America during the large-scale migrations of the 17th and 18th Centuries...
, The Great Wave) to narrative histories of significant events (Paul Revere's Ride, Washington's Crossing) to explorations of historiography
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
(Historians' Fallacies, in which he coined the term Historian's fallacy
Historian's fallacy
The historian's fallacy is a logical fallacy that occurs when one assumes that decision makers of the past viewed events from the same perspective and having the same information as those subsequently analyzing the decision...
).
He is best known for two major works: Albion's Seed
Albion's Seed
Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America is a 1989 book by David Hackett Fischer which describes four regional British cultures or ‘folkways’ which, the author argues, were transplanted to North America during the large-scale migrations of the 17th and 18th Centuries...
and Washington's Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History). In Albion's Seed, he argued that core aspects of American culture stem from four British folkways and regional cultures and that their interaction and conflict have been decisive factors in U.S. political and historical development. In the the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning Washington's Crossing, Fischer provides a narrative of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's leadership of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the winter of 1776-1777 during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
In 2008 he published Champlain's Dream, an exploration of Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
, the French explorer and founder of Quebec City. It was a runner-up in the 2009 Cundill Prize
Cundill Prize
The Cundill Prize in History at McGill University was founded in 2008 by Peter Cundill to recognize and promote literary and academic achievement in history. The prize is presented annually to an author who has published a non-fiction book in the prior year that is likely to have profound...
.
Fischer received a B.A. from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He received the 2006 Irving Kristol Award
Irving Kristol Award
The Irving Kristol Award is the highest honor conferred by the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.The award is given for "notable intellectual or practical contributions to improved public policy and social welfare" and named in honor of Irving Kristol. It replaced the Francis...
from the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
. He was admitted as an honorary member of The Society of the Cincinnati in 2006.
Selected works
- Historians' Fallacies : Toward a Logic of Historical Thought (1970) ISBN 0-06-131545-1
- The Revolution of American Conservatism: The Federalist Party in the Era of Jeffersonian Democracy (1976) ISBN 0-226-25135-7
- Concord: The Social History of a New England Town 1750-1850 (1984) (Editor)
- Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in AmericaAlbion's SeedAlbion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America is a 1989 book by David Hackett Fischer which describes four regional British cultures or ‘folkways’ which, the author argues, were transplanted to North America during the large-scale migrations of the 17th and 18th Centuries...
(1989) ISBN 0-19-503794-4 - Paul Revere's Ride (1994) ISBN 0-19-508847-6
- The Great Wave: Price Revolutions and the Rhythm of History (2000) ISBN 0-19-505377-X
- Washington's Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History) (2004) ISBN 0-19-517034-2
- Liberty and Freedom: A Visual History of America's Founding Ideas (2005) ISBN 0-19-516253-6
- Champlain's Dream: (2008)