Point of View

In A Nation Under Our Feet, Steven Hahn uses a third person omnipotent point of view throughout the work. As much of the work takes place in the nineteenth century and covers a large geographical area, this allows the author to move from place to place and from time to time quickly and in a coherent manner. The third person point of view also allows the author to present his analysis in an authoritative and integrated way. His arguments about African American political development during this time period becomes "fact," as opposed to suggestion or theory through the third person.

Hahn also incorporates the words, thoughts, and ideas of individuals and organizations from this time period. Relying on archival, historical material such as newspaper accounts, pamphlets, and other writing, he presents quoted material throughout the book to back up his argument and provide a first person...