America Transformed: Sixty Years of Revolutionary Change, 1941–2001

by Richard M. Abrams

• ISBN13: 9780521862462
• ISBN10: 0521862469
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-07-03
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

America has seen a multitude of transformations since its very founding. This book examines the period 1941-2001 during which time the character of American life changed rapidly, culminating in the shattering of the Liberal Democratic coalition. Revolutions in the areas of affluence, foreign policy, the military, business system, racial relations, gender roles, sexual behavior and attitudes, and disregard for privacy are discussed. Rather than cite historical facts as they occurred, America Transformed analyzes them and offers a fresh and often controversial perspective. Abrams draws on a wealth of published sources to highlight his original arguments on McCarthyism, the Cold War, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, and Johnson, to name a few topics. The synthesis of information and the depth of insight are simply unparalleled in any other book of American social history from 1941-2001.

Table of Contents

Part I. Retrospect: 1. 'The American Century'

2. Before the revolutions

3. The challenge of power

4. The inflation of moral possibilities

5. The generational chasm

Part II. Eight Revolutions: 6. Affluence

7. From isolation to hegemonic power

8. The rise of the military

9. The reorganization of the business system

10. The revolution in racial relations

11. The revolution in gender roles

12. Revolution in sexual behavior and attitudes

13. The demise of privacy

Part III. Counterrevolution: 14. Collapse of the Liberal Democratic coalition

15. Liberalism: ascension and declension

16. The Liberal Democratic coalition

17. The failure syndrome

18. Rise of the New Left and birth of 'neoconservatism'

19. Right-wing ascendancy

20. The Reagan revolution

21. Summary

Part IV. 'The New American Century'.