The Kingdom Of Matthias Sparknotes

The Kingdom of Matthias book is very interesting. It provides an appealing drama but also a satirical sensibility of historical events that happened throughout history. Such as cultural, economic, religion, and social change.

The Colonial Age, an era of America settlement and the starting foundation of this country, shaped what we know as America now. The Colonial Era is where the enlightenment of economic control emerged, cultural and social diversity, and the formation of strict religion. Many nations came to America to establish wealth, and some came to flee from religious persecution. The first known colony established was Jamestown, also referred to as the New World. Here many events took place that set the foundation. Farming was essential

during this time because it provided food to the Englishmen.

The Indian chief Powhatan provided the Englishmen with corn in exchange for resources such as guns, copper, and many other important resources he could use. Which eventually led to the discovery of the cash crop- tobacco, another source that promoted economic gain. As well as slavery. In The Kingdom of Matthias, the authors elaborated on issues that took place during the Jackson Era. The Jackson Era was a time of religious reform, and market revolution.

Throughout the book, the authors used characters that relatively represented how the Jackson era contributed to some of the events that took place in the characters life experiences. Elijah Pierson, one of the main characters, was a religious reformer. Growing up Elijah became actively involved in religion at a young age due to his family’s religious involvements. He comes from a puritanism family background. During Elijah’s youth years, he faithfully went to church with his parents and siblings and followed the rules that God demanded. His youth years took place during the late 1700s, which was during the

time of the American Revolution and the birth of a new nation. In the book, it mentions how Elijah’s father worked in a farm that he inherited from his great grandfather to make ends meet for his family. His father also played an important role in the church. This example represents the social roles men held during this time, and it shows economically what it was like during the American Revolution and before the birth of a new nation. It also mentions in the book how Elijah attended church and how he recognized the social ranks held within the church. “Sitting in church while Richards preached his Sunday lessons, Elijah could scan the room and see what the minister meant by God’s social ranks. The Piersons always sat in the same place, with their father their head, in the pew for which he paid rent. In front of him, near the minister’s family and the old folks who were hard of hearing, Elijah saw richer families that rented the more expensive pews near the pulpit. Behind Elijah sat families that paid less than his. In the back of the church and up in the gallery sat poor people, who paid nothing at all.”(pg.16) later Elijah would find the ranks to be injustice and disowned that kind of religious practice. This example represents the social classes of the 1700s.
Elijah Pierson left Manhattan in the early nineteenth century. Which was a time where young boys, who would not inherit farms, searched for a new start and independently gain wealth. “During the early nineteenth century thousands of country boys (particularly younger sons, who would not inherit farms) made a trek for new England and the rural middle states, hoping to earn their fortunes in the nation’s fastest growing seaport (18)”. This example represents the national expansion and reform of the nineteenth century. At the age of thirty-four, Elijah and his partner John Steinbrenner opened their own mercantile in New York, which turned out to be a great investment at the time. In New York Elijah, realized things were different from Manhattan. Socially to him, things were demented. Because of the social disorder, Elijah stayed to his self and did not pursue after any form of romantic relationship. Because of this unpleasant situation, he begin to look to his religion for guidance. Throughout the book, Elijah’s church home and faith changed overtime. Influenced by his wife Sara’s faith, He went from a Presbyterian Church member to an evangelicalism faith, and became a south Baptist church member. Elijah faith changed throughout the book due to the death of his wife, which caused him to become deranged.
These events led up to Elijah meeting Robert Matthews also known as Matthias.

Robert Matthews was a prophet. In the beginning of the story, Robert was a person who had a strong faith. He was a family man and had plenty of friends. He seemed to have a successful life. It was not until after the War of 1812 that Robert begin facing difficulties in his life. After the war of 1812, the new market was booming but Robert did not use his resources wisely, and experienced bankruptcy. This caused him to lose friends and associates that once trusted him. It seems after that Robert and his family faced many challenges and grief. He lost his two-year-old son Robert, and two years later, his second son died. Then there was a time years later where his entire family caught small pox and his youngest boy, who was a year old, died as well. During the loss of his first two children, the market revolution had begun. Which gives a micro perspective of what it was like for families and the economy during a drastic change. “While he convalesced, a financial panic devastated the city’s economy and suspended building projects throughout Manhattan (62) “. “Like thousands of other American men, he had experienced the market revolution not as liberating triumph but as a fitful, agonizing descent into wage labor. Never again would he regain his economic independence (62)”. These tragedies led Matthew to become angry and confused with religion. He being to become a mad man. He became abusive to his

wife and kids and eventually he would abandon his family. Through religion, Robert Matthews searched for guidance but it seems he grew further and further away from actually getting the guidance that he was seeking. In addition, eventually Robert Matthews would become Matthias. Matthias replaced the old Robert Matthews. Matthias faith led him to act as if he was God. “He was not, he now knew, Robert Matthews at all. He was Matthias, prophet of the God of the Jews. He had come, like John Ludlow, to bind up the broken-hearted, and to gather the faithful on the heights of Zion (84)”. Matthias traveled many places, which led him to Elijah Pierson’s front door. Matthias was a very persuasive man and demanding. He preyed on Elijah and his followers. He used his faith and power to gain wealth from his followers. This is how the kingdom of Matthias emerged. Matthias was the God of the house. They did what he told them to do. If they disobeyed him, he would punish them or curse them. The kingdom of Matthias was successful in the beginning but the sex scandals, and the death of Elijah caused the house to decline. People on the outside begin to realize what Matthias was doing. This ended up having Matthias on the trial for murder, and for abusing his daughter. The jury found Matthias guilty only for the abuse of his daughter Isabella.
The kingdom of Matthias was a great book that gave a micro perspective on American history that played a significant role in Americans lives. Many of the events mentioned in the book, were events that shaped what we know as America today. The book helped give an understanding of what it was like to live In the Jackson era, as well as the market revolution, and religious reformation. The book indeed had drama, scandal, and gave the feeling of “I wonder what’s going to happen next” but the authors satirical managed to give its readers an insight of American history.