A Nation of Veterans: War, Citizenship, and the Welfare State in Modern America

A Nation of Veterans examines how the United States created the world's most generous system of veterans benefits, highlighting the political battle veterans had to wage to secure and defend their advantages. It shows how veterans formed one of the most powerful movements of the early and mid-twentieth century and how women and veterans of color were often discriminated against or denied access to their benefits. It also examines multiple generations of veterans, shedding light on how former service members from both world wars as well as Korea and the Cold War interacted with each other.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 20 September 2022
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

A Nation of Veterans explores the creation of the United States' most generous veterans benefits system, revealing that veterans had to engage in a fierce political struggle to secure and defend their advantages against criticism from both liberals and conservatives. By aligning with influential interest groups such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion, veterans successfully established their privileged status in public policy. This process resulted in the formation of one of the most influential movements of the early and mid-twentieth century, although it remains relatively understudied. By examining the veterans movement's impact on martial citizenship, politics, and culture, A Nation of Veterans provides a fresh perspective on the U.S. welfare state, highlighting its historical connection with warfare. The book challenges the traditional focus on the 1944 G.I. Bill and delves into other significant benefits like pensions, civil service preference, and hospitals. Additionally, it explores the experiences of multiple generations of veterans, shedding light on their interactions and the deep roots of the military welfare state in the United States today.

Weight: 630g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781512823141