Like Huck's raft; the experience of American childhood has been both adventurous and terrifying. For more than three centuries; adults have agonized over raising children while children have followed their own paths to development and expression. Now; Steven Mintz gives us the first comprehensive history of American childhood encompassing both the child's and the adult's tumultuous early years of life.Underscoring diversity through time and across regions; Mintz traces the transformation of children from the sinful creatures perceived by Puritans to the productive workers of nineteenth-century farms and factories; from the cosseted cherubs of the Victorian era to the confident consumers of our own. He explores their role in revolutionary upheaval; westward expansion; industrial growth; wartime mobilization; and the modern welfare state. Revealing the harsh realities of children's lives through history--the rigors of physical labor; the fear of chronic ailments; the heartbreak of premature death--he also acknowledges the freedom children once possessed to discover their world as well as themselves. Whether at work or play; at home or school; the transition from childhood to adulthood has required generations of Americans to tackle tremendously difficult challenges. Today; adults impose ever-increasing demands on the young for self-discipline; cognitive development; and academic achievement; even as the influence of the mass media and consumer culture has grown. With a nod to the past; Mintz revisits an alternative to the goal-driven realities of contemporary childhood. An odyssey of psychological self-discovery and growth; this book suggests a vision of childhood that embraces risk and freedom--like the daring adventure on Huck's raft.
#92528 in Books Blight; David W. 2002-03-01 2002-01-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 5.50 x 1.25l; 1.27 #File Name: 0674008197528 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A little disjointed and rather long; but interesting consideration ...By NekuA little disjointed and rather long; but interesting consideration of the reflections on the importance of racial issues following the U.S. Civil War. A beginning study of people's impressions of the war and how this resonates with people's consciousness.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Concise View of the Civil WarBy P B IllingworthVery clear and concise with the reflections of the Civil War. This is a most read for those who want the best insight about the war and race issues.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. After the great Civil warBy Southwest Rain loverInteresting approach to a subject about which not enough is known.
