It is often said that America has become culturally diverse only in the past quarter century. But from the country’s beginning; cultural variety and conflict have been a centrifugal force in American politics and a crucial reason for our rise to power. The peopling of the United States is one of the most important stories of the last five hundred years; and in Shaping our Nation; bestselling author and demographics expert Michael Barone illuminates a new angle on America’s rise; using a vast array of political and social data to show America is the product of a series large; unexpected mass movements—both internal and external—which typically lasted only one or two generations but in that time reshaped the nation; and created lasting tensions that were difficult to resolve. Barone highlights the surprising trends and connections between the America of today and its migrant past; such as how the areas of major Scots-Irish settlement in the years leading up to the Revolutionary War are the same areas where John McCain performed better in the 2008 election than George W. Bush did in 2004; and how in the years following the Civil War; migration across the Mason-Dixon line all but ceased until the annealing effect that the shared struggle of World War II produced. Barone also takes us all the way up to present day; showing what the surge of Hispanic migration between 1970 and 2010 means for the elections and political decisions to be made in the coming decades. Barone shows how; from the Scots-Irish influxes of the 18th century; to the Ellis Island migrations of the early 20th and the Hispanic and Asian ones of the last four decades; people have moved to America in part in order to make a better living—but more importantly; to create new communities in which they could thrive and live as they wanted. And the founders’ formula of limited government; civic equality; and tolerance of religious and cultural diversity has provided a ready and useful template for not only to coping with these new cultural influences; but for prospering as a nation with cultural variety. Sweeping; thought-provoking; and ultimately hopeful; Shaping Our Nation is an unprecedented addition to our understanding of America’s cultural past; with deep implications for the immigration; economic; and social policies of the future.
#175184 in Books 2012-04-03 2012-04-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .80 x 5.18l; .60 #File Name: 0307387984272 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ... now living on the west coast I am finally Glad Someone corrected the record on this eventBy William M. JacksonAs a Native New Yorker now living on the west coast I am finally Glad Someone corrected the record on this event. The Writer did a brilliant Job on this I was in Army at the time and those kids got a RAW DEAL THEY Were from my Neighborhood and I was overseas at the time and it happened during the Puerto Rican Day parade. Everybody in the Neighborhood knew they were Innocent but with Trump and the Down Towners in their cross hairs.They had no chance. Plus the Police are always right even when they plant evidence and extract confessions with the 3rd Degree (Being Beating in Interrogation). A fact of life Growing up in East Harlem; If you lived it no matter how long ago or travelling all over the world you always remember Innocent or Guilty.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Good story; the writer did a great jobBy Noldimia DelgadoI purchased this book because I had to do a research paper and I really don't regret at all. Good story; the writer did a great job.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A Balanced Look at InjusticeBy MariaThis book recounts the steps that led to a horrible injustice done to five teen aged boys who are referred to as the Central Park 5; who were convicted of raping the Central Park Jogger in 1989; and whose convictions were vacated completely after they served their full sentences. I lived in NY at that time; and the book is a fair recounting of the frenzy around the case as well as the details that led to overturning their convictions. The book and film are the work primarily of Sarah Burns; daughter of documentarian Ken Burns; and show the background research and production values of a Burns project. It's an easy and effective read; and highlights the ineffectiveness of the justice system when it is deliberately perverted by those in control of the process. I used the book and DVD in a class on how racial conflict is presented in the mass media focusing on the racial elements of the story; and found it very effective and balanced. Greater coverage of how the minority media covered the ongoing story would have strengthened the project; since the few references that are included indicate the coverage was very different; and especially since the five teenagers were all members of minority communities. Chapter titles would also have been handy. The whole mess is sad and frustrating and infuriating; and the interviews with the now-grown men reflect the pain and injustice of lives that cannot really be recovered. These kids were put into prison for years when they were not guilty and simply wanted to play baseball; create some art; and go to the prom. The impact of the film and book have been significant; for the first time in about ten years; the NY City government is starting to negotiate with them on compensation for unlawful imprisonment.
