Protecting Soldiers and Mothers: The Political Origins of Social Policy in United States
Despite having instituted one of the world's earliest broad-based social welfare programs (Civil War pensions for veterans and their families), the United States did not develop into a full welfare state like other Western democracies. In a detailed historical case study of social policy from the 1880s to the 1920s, Skocpol (sociology, Harvard) examines how government, political parties, cultural values, unions, women's organizations, and other groups all played a part in this process. Of particular interest is the role of mass organizations for women, which won "maternalist" welfare policies for women and children in the years before women's suffrage. Skocpol's analysis, which includes frequent comparisons with European countries, is replete with well-documented primary source material. Although academic language and style may make this daunting reading, scholars and students of social history will find it fascinating background for current debates on U.S. social policies. An important acquisition for all academic libraries.- Mary Jane Brustman, SUNY at Albany Libs.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.