Society and Power: Five New England Towns, 1800-1860

Robert Doherty's groundbreaking study examines the transformation of social structure and power dynamics across five representative New England towns during the formative decades of the nineteenth century. Through careful analysis of occupational mobility, community leadership patterns, and social stratification, Doherty traces how these previously cohesive rural communities experienced profound changes between the American Revolution and the Civil War era.

The work challenges conventional assumptions about early American society, revealing how power became increasingly concentrated despite the era's democratic rhetoric. By studying wealth distribution, occupational hierarchies, and patterns of geographic mobility, Doherty demonstrates how social relationships fundamentally shifted as communities transitioned from agriculture-based economies toward industrialization. His research methodology combines demographic analysis with social history to illuminate the lived experiences of ordinary townspeople alongside elites.

This compact but authoritative volume contributes significantly to our understanding of how New England communities adapted to modernization while grappling with questions of class, opportunity, and social order. Doherty's insights remain relevant for historians studying community formation, social stratification, and regional development in early America.