The end of the myth : from the frontier to the border wall in the mind of America / Greg Grandin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Grandin, Greg, 1962- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Turner, Frederick Jackson, 1861-1932--Criticism and interpretation.

Turner, Frederick Jackson.

Turner, Frederick Jackson, 1861-1932.

Frontier thesis.

Borderlands--United States.

Borderlands.

Nationalism.

History.

Criticism and interpretation.

United States.

National characteristics, American.

Exceptionalism--United States.

Exceptionalism.

Nationalism--United States--History--20th century.

Local Subjects:

United States.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

History.

Physical Description:

xii, 369 pages ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2019.

Summary:

"Ever since this nation's founding, the idea of an open and ever-expanding frontier has been central to American identity. Symbolizing a future of endless promise, the frontier made possible the United States' belief in itself as an exceptional nation--democratic, individualistic, forward-looking. Today, though, the country has a new symbol: the border wall. In [this book], acclaimed historian Greg Grandin explores the effect that constant, relentless expansion had on America's domestic politics, examining the full sweep of U.S. history--from the American Revolution to the Spanish-American War, the New Deal to the election of 2016. For centuries, he shows, the ability to move outward--fighting wars and opening markets--provided America with a "gate of escape," helping to deflect domestic political and economic conflicts. But this deflection meant that the country's problems, from racism to inequality, were never confronted directly. And now, the combined catastrophes of the 2008 financial meltdown, our unwinnable wars in the Middle East, and a deepening ecological crisis have slammed this gate shut, bringing political passions that had long been directed elsewhere back home. It is this new reality, Grandin says, that explains the rise of reactionary populism and racist nationalism, the extreme anger and polarization that catapulted Trump to the presidency. The border wall may or may not be built, but it will survive as a rallying point, an allegorical tombstone marking the end of American exceptionalism."--Dust jacket.

Frederick Jackson Turner's "Frontier Thesis" argued that the expansion of settlement across a frontier of "free land" created a uniquely American form of political equality, a vibrant, forward-looking individualism. Grandin explores the effect that constant, relentless expansion had on America's domestic politics. He examines the full sweep of U.S. history-- from the American Revolution to the election of 2016-- and shows that this movement deflected domestic political and economic conflicts, but meant that the country's problems, from racism to inequality, were never confronted directly. Political passions that had long been directed elsewhere are now focused back home, and the border wall-- whether or not it is built-- may well provide an allegorical tombstone marking the end of American exceptionalism. -- adapted from introduction and jacket

Contents:

Introduction: Fleeing forward

All that space

The alpha and the omega

A Caucasian democracy

The safety valve

Are you ready for all these wars?

The true relief

The outer edge

The pact of 1898

A fortress on the frontier

A psychological twist

A golden harvest

Some demonic suction tube

More, more, more

The new preëmptor

Crossing the blood meridian

Epilogue: The significance of the wall in American history.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [293]-352) and index.

ISBN:

9781250179821

1250179823

OCLC:

1057732664

Publisher Number:

40028945634