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Civic Ideals

Conflicting Visions of Citizenship in U.S. History

By: Rogers M. Smith

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Paperback | 24 May 1999 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
736 Pages

Edition Type
New edition

Dimensions(cm)
2.38 x 1.66 x 0.42

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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

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Politics & Government Political Control & Freedoms Human Rights Civil Rights & Citizenship Central Government History Specific Events & Topics in History Social & Cultural History Regional & National History History of the Americas Society & Culture

Social Issues & Processes Migration, Immigration & Emigration Law Laws of Specific Jurisdictions Constitutional & Administrative Law Human Rights & Civil Liberties Law

Acknowledgments
Introduction	p. 1
The Hidden Lessons of American Citizenship Laws	p. 13
Fierce New World: The Colonial Sources of American Citizenship	p. 40
Forging a Revolutionary People, 1763-1776	p. 70
Citizens of Small Republics: The Confederation Era, 1776-1789	p. 87
The Constitution and the Quest for National Citizenship	p. 115
Attempting National Liberal Citizenship: The Federalist Years, 1789-1801	p. 137
Towards a Commercial Nation of White Yeoman Republics: The Jeffersonian Era, 1801-1829	p. 165
High Noon of the White Republic: The Age of Jackson, 1829-1856	p. 197
Dred Scott Unchained: The Bloody Birth of the Free Labor Republic, 1857-1866	p. 243
The America That "Never Was": The Radical Hour, 1866-1876	p. 286
The Gilded Age of Ascriptive Americanism, 1876-1898	p. 347
Progressivism and the New American Empire, 1898-1912	p. 410
Epilogue: The Party of America	p. 470
Notes	p. 507
Bibliography	p. 645
Index of Cases	p. 673
Index	p. 701
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

Civic Ideals

Conflicting Visions of Citizenship in U.S. History

At a Glance

Paperback

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How to return your order

Defective items

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