A powerful history of the making and unmaking of American democracy and global power; told in sweeping scope and intimate detail. In the winter of 1936; Franklin Roosevelt remarked in a fireside chat; “I do not look upon these United States as a finished product. We are still in the making.†Certainly apt in the midst of the Depression; the idea of a nation in the making still resonates today as we measure the achievements and shortcomings of our democracy. Over the long twentieth century; Americans have worked; organized; marched; and fought to make the nation’s ideals a reality for all. This shared commitment to achieving an American democracy is the inspiring theme of These United States. Acclaimed historians Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore and Thomas J. Sugrue forge the panoramic and the personal into an authoritative narrative. They give us insightful accounts of the century’s large events―war; prosperity; and depression; astute leadership and arrogant power; the rise and decline of a broad middle class. And they ground the history in the stories of everyday Americans such as William Hushka; a Lithuanian immigrant who makes and loses an American life; Stan Igawa; a Japanese-American who never doubts his citizenship despite internment during World War II; and Betty Dukes; a Wal-Mart cashier who takes on America’s largest corporation over wage discrimination.The history begins and ends in periods of concentrated wealth; with immigration roiling politics and racial divisions flaring. Its arc over those hundred-plus years raises key questions: how far has our democracy come? Were the postwar decades of middle-class prosperity and global power a culmination of the American Century or the exception in a long history of economic and political division? Gilmore and Sugrue frame these questions by drawing the illuminating connections characteristic of the best historical writing. 16 pages of illustrations; 10 maps
#813164 in Books Leonard Todd 2008-10-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.60 x 1.10 x 6.40l; 1.37 #File Name: 0393058565336 pagesCarolina Clay The Life and Legend of the Slave Potter Dave
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A glimpse into an educated slaves life and timesBy deeAn interesting read...there were a lot of phrases like; "Dave may have"; "he probably experienced this" etc. as the author tried to fill in the blanks. It was also very slow moving at times as the author traced his steps and frankly had little to go on; scant census records; ledgers of purchase and a newspaper article or two. But; Mr. Todd remained steadfast; determined to tell the story and give us a glimpse into the life of an educated slave; one his family had owned and obviously respected.8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. New insight on Dave; the potterBy G. DexterCarolina Clay by Leonard Todd is a must for anyone wishing to learn of the great enslaved potter; Dave Drake. The material is presented in chronological order starting with Dave's first master Reuben Drake and his early years at Pottersville after Dr. Abner Landrum became his owner. Todd uses family records as well as public archives to present a well-rounded sketch of Dave; period politics and the antebellum Old Edgefield District of South Carolina. Several exciting; previously unknown facts are presented about Dave which; before now; were not found in the record of entries about Dave. Todd's research sheds new light on several exciting propositions in which scholars; historians and collectors have long debated concerning Dave's life and family relationships. The amazing stoneware manufacturers from the Old Edgefield District started a tradition of pottery making in the southern USA unlike any other known in this country. As more and more people discover alkaline glazed stoneware; the prices of the old pottery sky rockets! Dave's pots are at the pinnacle of both rarity and price. This book will become the necessary bible on Dave and a "must have" companion book to the several other publications on southern alkaline glazed pottery.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This book arrived on time and in great shape. I used it for a ceramics courseBy RubyLeeThis book arrived on time and in great shape. I used it for a ceramics course. It happened to be my professors favorite book which he raves about all the time. The story is commendable; great read.
