Civic ideals : conflicting visions of citizenship in U.S. history / Rogers M. Smith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, Rogers M., 1953-

Series:

Yale ISPS series

The Yale ISPS series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Minorities--Legal status, laws, etc.

History.

Discrimination--Law and legislation.

United States.

Citizenship--United States--History.

Citizenship.

Discrimination--Law and legislation--United States--History.

Discrimination.

Minorities--Legal status, laws, etc--United States--History.

Minorities.

United States--Race relations.

Race relations.

Penn Provenance:

Shaw, Gwendolyn Dubois, 1968- (donor) (storage copy 2)

Physical Description:

x, 719 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

New Haven [Conn.] : Yale University Press, [1997]

Summary:

Is civic identity in the United States really defined by liberal, democratic political principles? Or is U.S. citizenship the product of multiple traditions -- not only liberalism and republicanism but also white supremacy, Anglo-Saxon supremacy, Protestant supremacy, and male Supremacy? In this powerful and disturbing book, Rogers Smith traces political struggles over U.S. citizenship laws from the colonial period through the Progressive era and shows that throughout this time, most adults were legally denied access to full citizenship, including political rights, solely because of their race, ethnicity, or gender. Basic conflicts over these denials have driven political development and civic membership in the U.S., Smith argues. These conflicts are what truly define U.S. civic identity up to this day.

Others have claimed that nativist, racist, and sexist traditions have been marginal or that they are purely products of capitalist institutions. In contrast, Smith's pathbreaking account explains why these traditions have been central to American political and economic life. He shows that in the politics of nation building, principles of democracy and liberty have often failed to foster a sense of shared "peoplehood" and have instead led many Americans to claim that they are a "chosen people", a "master race" or superior culture, with distinctive gender roles. Smith concludes that today the United States is in a period of reaction against the egalitarian civic reforms of the last generation, with nativist, racist, and sexist beliefs regaining influence. He suggests ways that proponents of liberal democracy should alter their view of U.S. citizenship in order to combat thesedevelopments more effectively.

"An important and original argument that ranges through a long period of American history and makes a major contribution to the debate about the bases of American nationality and civic identity". -- Eric Foner, Columbia University

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [645]-672) and indexes.

Local Notes:

Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon Hackney.

Storage copy signed by Sheldon Hackney in front.

Storage copy has MS. notes by Sheldon Hackney at end.

Storage copy 2 presented to the Penn Libraries by Gwendolyn Dubois Shaw.

ISBN:

0300069898

OCLC:

36301097