A concise history that proves that dissent is patriotic The history
of America is a history of dissent. Protests against the British
Parliament’s taxation policies led to the American Revolution and
the creation of the United States. At the Constitutional Convention
the founders put the right to protest in the First Amendment of the
Bill of Rights. In the nineteenth century, dissenters protested
against the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, they demanded the
abolition of slavery, suffrage for women, and fair treatment for
workers. In the twentieth century, millions of Americans
participated in the Civil Rights Movement, the antiwar movement,
and second-wave feminism. In the twenty-first century, hundreds of
thousands protested the war in Iraq, joined the 2011 Occupy
movement, the 2017 Women’s March, and the 2020 Black Lives Matter
uprisings. The crowds grew larger than ever, but the sentiments
expressed were familiar. There have been dissenting Americans for
as long as there has been an America. In American Patriots,
historian Ralph Young chronicles the key role dissent has played in
shaping the United States. He explains that activists are not
protesting against America, but pushing the country to live up to
its ideals. As he guides the reader through the history of protest,
Young considers how ordinary Americans, from moderates to
firebrands, responded to injustice. He highlights the work of
organizations like SNCC and ACT UP, and he follows iconic
individuals like Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Woody Guthrie, charting
the impact of their dissent. Some of these protesters are
celebrated heroes of American history, while others are ordinary
people, frequently overlooked, whose stories show that change is
often accomplished through grassroots activism. Yet not all dissent
is equal. In 2021, thousands of rioters stormed the US Capitol, and
Americans on both sides of the aisle watched the destruction with
horror. American Patriots contrasts this attack with the long
history of American protest, and challenges us to explore our
definition of dissent. Does it express a legitimate grievance or a
smokescreen for undermining democracy? What are the limits of
dissent? Where does dissent end and sedition begin? In a time when
legitimate dissent is framed as unpatriotic, Young reminds us of
the dissenters who have shaped our country’s history. American
Patriots is a necessary defense of our right to demand better for
ourselves, our communities, and our nation.
General
Imprint: |
New York University Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
2024 |
Authors: |
Ralph Young
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 152mm (L x W) |
Pages: |
336 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4798-2652-0 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
1-4798-2652-9 |
Barcode: |
9781479826520 |
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