A Time of Paradox: America Since 1890

by Glen Jeansonne University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Overview

In this lively and provocative synthesis, distinguished historian Glen Jeansonne explores the people and events that shaped America in the twentieth century. Comprehensive in scope, A Time of Paradox offers a balanced look at the political, diplomatic, social and cultural developments of the last century while focusing on the diverse and sometimes contradictory human experiences that characterized this dynamic period.

Designed with the student in mind, this cogent text provides the most up to date analysis available, offering insight into the divisive election of 2004, the War on Terror and the Gulf Coast hurricanes. Substantive biographies on figures ranging from Samuel Insull to Madonna give students a more personalized view of the men and women who influenced American society over the past hundred years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461636380
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	03/02/2006
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	576
File size:	14 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Glen Jeansonne is professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is the author of Women of the Far Right: The Mothers' Movement and World War II, Transformation and Reaction: America, 1921–1945, and Gerald L. K. Smith: Minister of Hate.

Table of Contents

Prologue
Prelude: The 1890s: Bridge to the Twentieth Century
Part I: An Era of Awakening, 1900–1919
Chapter 1: TR, Taft, and the Progressive Impulse
Chapter 2: America Looks Outward, 1900–1912
Chapter 3: Nations Within: The Experiences of Immigrants, Minorities, and Workers
Chapter 4: A Cultural Awakening, 1900–1919
Chapter 5: Wilson, Reform, and the Coming of War
Chapter 6: From World War to Lost Peace
Bibliographic Essay
Part II: An Era of Trial and Triumph, 1920–1945
Chapter 7: The 1920s: Decade of Fear, Decade of Excess
Chapter 8: Republicanism from Prosperity to the Great Depression
Chapter 9: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal
Chapter 10: Culture: Revolt and Retreat
Chapter 11: Interwar Diplomacy
Chapter 12: World War II: Home Front and Battlefront, 1941–1945
Bibliographic Essay
Part III: An Era of Uncertainty, 1945–1968
Chapter 13: The Fair Deal and the Cold War, 1945–1952
Chapter 14: Peace and Peril, 1953–1960
Chapter 15: The Affluent Society
Chapter 16: Cultural Dissent
Chapter 17: New Frontiers, New Anxieties at Home, 1961–1968
Chapter 18: Foreign Anxieties, 1961–1968
Bibliographic Essay
Part IV: An Era of Diversity, since 1969
Chapter 19: The Nixon Years, 1969–1974
Chapter 20: Healing and Malaise: The Ford and Carter Administrations
Chapter 21: The Reagan Rebellion
Chapter 22: A Culture of Diversity
Chapter 23: "Can We All Get Along?": The Soul of the Nation
Chapter 24: From George Bush to George W. Bush
Postlude: The Presidency of George W. Bush
Bibliographic Essay
Epilogue: A Time of Paradox

Editorial Reviews

Jeansonne has produced a finely crafted synthesis of U.S. history, 1890 to the present. More than just another textbook, this is a balanced, intellectual presentation of the people and events that shaped the U.S. during the nation's modern era. The chapters are both chronological and topical, and the author presents a broad history that he illustrates with biography, overarching themes, and insightful juxtapositions of the competing agents for change. Jeansonne lays out each chapter's framework in a logical format, and his masterfully crafted narrative conveys the complexity of the past with sensitivity and balance. Attention is given to ethnicity, gender, economics, diplomacy, and politics, as well as to the arts, technology, sports, and pop culture. College students, the intended audience, will appreciate such auxiliary features as useful chronologies, short biographies, and vignettes, which give added texture and depth to each period, and the well-developed, up-to-date, and thematic suggested readings bibliographic essays for each section.

Choice Reviews - T. Maxwell-Long

Student and teacher have gotten together to write what is being called the first sweeping history of America in the 20th century to take into account September 11, 2001 and its aftermath.. .. In their focus on people and events that shaped America and the American psyche in the 1900s, Jeansonne and Luhrssen have left no stone unturned, including everyone from General Electric co-founder Samuel Insull to pop stars like Madonna.

Onmilwaukee.Com - Bobby Tanzilo

A Time of Paradox is an impressive work of synthesis, summarizing in narrative form many of the major works of American history from a variety of subfields. Political history tends to dominate, but cultural, social labor, gender, ethnic, military and religious histories are all represented.

Express Milwaukee - Stephen Sarvais

In A Time of Paradox: America since 1890, Glen Jeansonne has captured the trauma, tragedy, and excitement of the 20th century American experience in a clear and balanced style. Jeansonne has written an important book that will be a major asset in any U.S. History course.

Patrick W. Steele

This volume is a publishing 'tour de force' that encapsulates a critical era of United States history into a readable and very cogent narrative that will surely satisfy any reader who desires a deepened understanding of the American experience. Well-written, lively, and meticulous in its coverage, this book surveys a breathtaking variety of historical topics, all of which bring new light and enhanced awareness to the development of modern America. Complexity and paradox are counterpoised with a straightforward discussion of historical events in a manner that will delight both historical experts and introductory-level students of the era.

Light T. Cummins

A Time of Paradox is a majestic narrative of the twentieth century crafted by a superb historian at the peak of his career. Written with equal parts passion, wit, and humility, this book will engage and delight all students of American history.

Kari Frederickson

This book is highly readable, accessible to new students, engaging to interested readers, and stimulating for trained historians. Jeansonne presents the facts and statistics, but remembers that historical writing can be clear, vigorous, and fair-minded. He makes his narrative move, dealing with not only politics, but also architecture, education, labor, media, and a range of interdisciplinary subjects through the context of chronology.. .. A Time of Paradox is sure to engender the kind of interest and debate that Jeansonne encourages in his judicious presentation or provocative issues. He geographically captures both the hopes and failings of the American nation, drawing together periods of riches and happiness with times of trouble and bitterness, as well as renewal.

The Historian

Comprehensive in scope, A Time of Paradox offers a well-balanced view of the cultural, social and political climates and developments that helped to shape the 20th century as well as an in-depth exploration of the people that brought those developments about.

Shepherd Express - Jason Seed