Sweet freedom's song: "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and democracy in America

Introduction: "You can sing what would be death to speak".

"God save the !̲̲̲̲̲": institutionalizing, appropriating, and contesting nationalism through song, 1744-1798.

"The subordination of the different parts and voices": popularizing "America" through grassroots activism, 1826-1850.

"Bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy" in the "dark land of slavery", 1830-1859.

"Teach us true liberty": "America" in the Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1869.

Reforming the "sweet land of knavery": "America" and political protest, 1870-1932.

Epilogue: "America", "God save the Queen", and postmodernity.

Appendix A: Sixteen versions of "God save the King" and "My country 'tis of thee", organized chronologically, 1744-1891.

Appendix B: List of alternative American versions of "God save the King" and "America", 1759-1900.