Civic ideals
Subtitle: conflicting visions of citizenship in U.S. history
By: Rogers M. Smith.
Series: The Yale ISPS series
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: New Haven
Language: eng
Number of pages: 719
Subjects: Citizenship -- United States -- History; Discrimination -- Law and legislation -- United States -- History; Minorities -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States -- History; United States -- Race relations
Description: Is civic identity in the United States really defined by liberal, democratic political principles? Or is U.S. citizenship the product of multiple traditions - not only liberalism and republicanism but also white supremacy, Anglo-Saxon supremacy, Protestant supremacy, and male supremacy?

In this powerful and disturbing book, Rogers Smith traces political struggles over U.S. citizenship laws from the colonial period through the Progressive era and shows that throughout this time, most adults were legally denied access to full citizenship, including political rights, solely because of their race, ethnicity, or gender. Basic conflicts over these denials have driven political development in the U.S., Smith argues. These conflicts are what truly define U.S. civic identity up to this day.

Smith concludes that today the United States is in a period of reaction against the egalitarian civic reforms of the last generation, with nativist, racist, and sexist beliefs regaining influence. He suggests ways that proponents of liberal democracy should alter their view of U.S. citizenship in order to combat these developments more effectively.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [645]-672) and indexes.