Marcus Cunliffe
Encyclopedia
Marcus Cunliffe was a British scholar who specialized in American Studies, especially military and cultural history. Cunliffe stressed the powerful influence of Americans' cultural beliefs about their own natural military capacity, reinforced by a latent dislike of military professionals, on the nature and performance of the militia/volunteers. Cunliffe pointed the way to the "new military history"
in his Soldiers and Civilians: The Martial Spirit in America, 1775–1865 (1969). Cunliffe explored American "exceptionalism" and the national desire it promotes to look inward rather than outward. Cunliffe forcefully argues that the United States was less exceptional than many American writers believe. He always emphasizes the interconnections between Western cultures. Living in Washington in the 1980s, he perhaps reacted against the chauvinism of the Ronald Reagan
years; but his writing invariably stressed the European (and especially British) roots of American military ideas.
, Sandhurst
and Yale
, where he was Harkness Fellow http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FAMS%2FAMS39_03%2FS0021875805000563a.pdf&code=c96c65d39537ce16d36eebf438633b36. He later served as an intelligence officer in the Royal Tank Regiment
during the Second World War.
and the University of Sussex
, where he was Professor of American Studies; he was also a visiting professor at Harvard
. He wrote many books on American history, including The Nation Takes Shape, 1789-1837 (1960), a book in the "Chicago History of American Civilization" series planned and edited by Daniel J. Boorstin
, that traces the growth of the United States from the launching of government under the Constitution in 1789 through the end of the presidency of Andrew Jackson
in 1837; George Washington: Man and Monument (1958), a terse, incisive, and witty examination of the life of George Washington
and his historical significance which is still generally regarded as the best short book ever written on Washington; an important series of lectures, Chattel Slavery and Wage Slavery (1979), which compared the conditions of slavery in the American south and industrial labor in the North (tauntingly described by Southern defenders of slavery as "wage slavery"); a general history of the American presidency in various editions; and such notable contributions to American military history as Soldiers and Civilians: The Martial Spirit in America, 1775-1865 (1969). A posthumously-published collection of essays, In Search of America: Trans-Atlantic Essays, 1956-1990, was published by Greenwood Press in 1991.
. Together, they had a son and two daughters (one of whom is Shay Cunliffe, Costume Designers Guild
Award winner). They divorced in 1971.
Military history
Military history is a humanities discipline within the scope of general historical recording of armed conflict in the history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, their cultures, economies and changing intra and international relationships....
in his Soldiers and Civilians: The Martial Spirit in America, 1775–1865 (1969). Cunliffe explored American "exceptionalism" and the national desire it promotes to look inward rather than outward. Cunliffe forcefully argues that the United States was less exceptional than many American writers believe. He always emphasizes the interconnections between Western cultures. Living in Washington in the 1980s, he perhaps reacted against the chauvinism of the Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
years; but his writing invariably stressed the European (and especially British) roots of American military ideas.
Education
Cunliffe was educated at Oriel College, OxfordUniversity of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
and Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he was Harkness Fellow http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FAMS%2FAMS39_03%2FS0021875805000563a.pdf&code=c96c65d39537ce16d36eebf438633b36. He later served as an intelligence officer in the Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
during the Second World War.
Career
Cunliffe lectured at the University of ManchesterUniversity of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, where he was Professor of American Studies; he was also a visiting professor at Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He wrote many books on American history, including The Nation Takes Shape, 1789-1837 (1960), a book in the "Chicago History of American Civilization" series planned and edited by Daniel J. Boorstin
Daniel J. Boorstin
Daniel Joseph Boorstin was an American historian, professor, attorney, and writer. He was appointed twelfth Librarian of the United States Congress from 1975 until 1987.- Biography:...
, that traces the growth of the United States from the launching of government under the Constitution in 1789 through the end of the presidency of Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
in 1837; George Washington: Man and Monument (1958), a terse, incisive, and witty examination of the life 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...
and his historical significance which is still generally regarded as the best short book ever written on Washington; an important series of lectures, Chattel Slavery and Wage Slavery (1979), which compared the conditions of slavery in the American south and industrial labor in the North (tauntingly described by Southern defenders of slavery as "wage slavery"); a general history of the American presidency in various editions; and such notable contributions to American military history as Soldiers and Civilians: The Martial Spirit in America, 1775-1865 (1969). A posthumously-published collection of essays, In Search of America: Trans-Atlantic Essays, 1956-1990, was published by Greenwood Press in 1991.
Personal life
In 1949, he met and married American sculptor Mitzi SolomonMitzi Cunliffe
Mitzi Solomon Cunliffe was an American sculptor. She was most famous for designing the golden trophy in the shape of a theatrical mask that would go on to represent the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and be presented as the BAFTA award...
. Together, they had a son and two daughters (one of whom is Shay Cunliffe, Costume Designers Guild
Costume Designers Guild
The Costume Designers Guild , IATSE LOCAL 892 was founded in 1953 by a group of 30 motion picture costume designers. In 1986, the Costume Designers Guild joined the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and added Local 892 to its name...
Award winner). They divorced in 1971.
Works
- The American Presidency
- The Literature of the United States (1954)
- Marcus Cunliffe and Robin W. Winks, eds.Pastmasters: Some Essays on American Historians (1969)
- Marcus Cunliffe. Soldiers and Civilians: The Martial Spirit in America, 1775–1865 (1969).
- George Washington: Man and Monument (1958)
Further reading
- Brian Holden Reid, ‘Cunliffe, Marcus Falkner (1922–1990)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 5 June 2007