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The Great Recession

In Ages of American Capitalism, Jonathan Levy explains how the Great Recession of 2007 challenged many long-standing beliefs about capitalism in the U.S., especially the idea that free markets are the best and fairest way to run the economy. Before the crash, many people believed that the government should stay out of the economy asContinue reading “The Great Recession”

Climate Change

In Behind the Curve, Joshua Howe shows that the connection between better scientific knowledge and climate policy is not as strong as many people think. Even as scientists grew more confident that CO2 emissions were warming the planet dangerously, politics did not follow what the scientists were saying. Instead of taking action, the political debatesContinue reading “Climate Change”

Forever Wars

Andrew Bacevich, a Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Army colonel, says that the real reason the U.S. is always fighting wars in the Middle East is not just because of enemies like Saddam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden. He says that while these men did bad things, they are not the main reason why AmericaContinue reading “Forever Wars”

The New Right

In the 1980s and 1990s, many people in western America were angry about how the government managed public lands. They believed that local people should have more control. This anger helped start the Sagebrush Rebellion and later the Wise Use movement. These fights about land and who should control it helped bring new attention toContinue reading “The New Right”

The Christian Right

Jerry Falwell was an important person in the creation of the Christian Right, a group of people who mixed their Christian beliefs with politics. At first, Falwell didn’t think preachers should be involved in politics. He believed they should focus on Christianity and churches, not running the country. But in the 1970s, things started toContinue reading “The Christian Right”

The Industrial Shift

During the shift from an industrial to a service-based economy, the working class in Pennsylvania went through a difficult transition. Many people lost their jobs when factories shut down, and they had to find work in the service industry, which often paid less and had worse conditions. Some workers tried to retrain for new jobs,Continue reading “The Industrial Shift”

Politics Back Home

George Wallace and Richard Nixon used the idea of “elite doves” versus “reactionary hardhats” to gain support from white working-class Americans. They painted a picture where anti-war protesters were seen as rich, spoiled, and disconnected from regular people. Wallace, during his 1968 presidential campaign, talked a lot about “the average man on the street.” HeContinue reading “Politics Back Home”

Vietnam War Soldiers

Christian Appy describes the Vietnam War as a “working-class war” because most of the soldiers came from poor or working-class families. The draft system made it easier for rich people to avoid fighting by going to college or finding other ways out. Many of the soldiers who fought were from blue-collar backgrounds, and a largeContinue reading “Vietnam War Soldiers”

South Dakota Missiles

During the Cold War, South Dakota became home to 150 Minuteman missiles. These missiles were kept in underground silos throughout the state. The missiles that the US was creating played a big role in intimidating the USSR. The construction of these missile sites required large amounts of federal funding, which provided economic benefits to theContinue reading “South Dakota Missiles”

Racism in the Civil Rights Movement

The Long Movement Outside the South by Jeanne Theoharis tells the story that racism was not just a problem in the South, but it also was a bigger problem than most people thought in the North. Many people think of the Civil Rights Movement as something that mainly happened in places like Alabama and Mississippi,Continue reading “Racism in the Civil Rights Movement”