Jane Dailey - Böcker

Now more than ever, we need informed citizens who bring a thorough knowledge of America's history to community life and the political process. Understanding what built our republic allows us to better maintain its democracy. These books are here to help. Harry L. Watson and Jane Dailey have set out to bring a highly readable, comprehensive telling of American history to the widest audience possible. And to that end, it will be one of the first American history textbooks to be offered completely free in digital form.Building the Republic deftly combines centuries of perspectives and voices into a fluid narrative of the United States. Through crisp, incisive prose it takes readers through the full scope of American history, starting with the first inhabitants and carrying all the way to the 2016 election. Throughout, Watson and Dailey emphasize the struggle for justice and equality in a more perfect union, the challenge of racial and ethnic conflict, the evolution of law and legal norms, the enduring influence of religious diversity, and the distinctive history and influence of the South.They take care to integrate varied scholarly perspectives into their chapters and work to engage a diverse readership by addressing what we all share in common: membership in a democratic republic, with joint claims on its self-governing tradition. These two volumes will enable readers and students to gain a full understanding of America. They combine open-access text with rigorous academic standards and the backing of a major university press. By presenting a straightforward, absorbing history that's accessible to all readers, Watson and Dailey hope that more citizens will gain the knowledge they need to make the best possible choices for their country.

White supremacy shaped all aspects of post-Civil War southern life, yet its power was never complete or total. The form of segregation and subjection nicknamed Jim Crow constantly had to remake itself over time even as white southern politicians struggled to extend its grip. Here, some of the most innovative scholars of southern history question Jim Crow's sway, evolution, and methods over the course of a century. These essays bring to life the southern men and women--some heroic and decent, others mean and sinister, most a mixture of both--who supported and challenged Jim Crow, showing that white supremacy always had to prove its power. Jim Crow was always in motion, always adjusting to meet resistance and defiance by both African Americans and whites. Sometimes white supremacists responded with increased ferocity, sometimes with more subtle political and legal ploys. Jumpin' Jim Crow presents a clear picture of this complex negotiation. For example, even as some black and white women launched the strongest attacks on the system, other white women nurtured myths glorifying white supremacy.Even as elite whites blamed racial violence on poor whites, they used Jim Crow to dominate poor whites as well as blacks. Most important, the book portrays change over time, suggesting that Strom Thurmond is not a simple reincarnation of Ben Tillman and that Rosa Parks was not the first black woman to say no to Jim Crow. From a study of the segregation of household consumption to a fresh look at critical elections, from an examination of an unlikely antilynching campaign to an analysis of how miscegenation laws tried to sexualize black political power, these essays about specific southern times and places exemplify the latest trends in historical research. Its rich, accessible content makes Jumpin' Jim Crow an ideal undergraduate reader on American history, while its methodological innovations will be emulated by scholars of political history generally. In addition to the editors, the contributors are Edward L. Ayers, Elsa Barkley Brown, W. Fitzhugh Brundage, Laura F. Edwards, Kari Frederickson, David F. Godshalk, Grace Elizabeth Hale, Jacquelyn Dowd Hall, Stephen Kantrowitz, Nancy MacLean, Nell Irwin Painter, and Timothy B. Tyson.