Progressive History of American Democracy Since 1945: American Dreams, Hard Realities

American Dreams, Hard Realities provides a social, political, and cultural history of the United States since World War II, examining how Americans descended from a mid-century apogee of boundless expectations to a sense of crisis and national failure. It explores grassroots movements, resilience, economic transformation, and the fracturing of a nation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Since 1945, the United States has experienced a progressive history of democracy, encompassing social, political, and cultural aspects. American Dreams, Hard Realities delves into this transformative era, examining how Americans transitioned from a period of boundless expectations to a contemporary era marked by a sense of crisis and national failure. The book adopts a synthetic approach, spanning from the 1940s to the present day, to explore the decline and potential recovery of shared national values.

Chris J. Magoc, the author, provides comprehensive treatments of various topics, including:

Grassroots movements that have expanded the meaning of American democracy, from the civil rights struggles of the 1950s to modern movements addressing systemic racism and climate change.

The resilience of American democracy in the face of antidemocratic forces.

The impacts of a decades-long economic transformation.

The consequences of America's expanding global military footprint and national security state.

The fracturing of a nation once united by a post-war liberal consensus and shared societal goals, facing an attack from within on empirical truth and democracy itself.

This book appeals to students of modern U.S. history, social history, American Studies, and general readers interested in recent U.S. history. It offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics shaping American society and politics.

Weight: 538g
Dimension: 184 x 272 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367749767