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The Story of American Freedom |  |
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The Story of American Freedom | |
Foner begins with the colonial era, when the Puritans believed that liberty was rooted in voluntary submission to God and civil authorities, and consisted only in the right to do good. John Locke, too, would argue that liberty did not consist of the lack of restraint, but of "a standing rule to live by, common to every one of that society, and made by the legislative power." Foner reveals the ideological conflicts that lay at the heart of the American Revolution and the Civil War, the shifts in thought about what freedom is and to whom it should apply. Adeptly charting the major trends of 20th-century American politics--including the invocation of freedom as a call to arms in both world wars--Foner concludes by contrasting the two prevalent movements of the 1990s: the liberal articulation of freedom, grounded in Johnson's Great Society and the rhetoric of the New Left, as the provision of civil rights and economic opportunity for all citizens, and the conservative vision, perhaps most fully realized during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, of a free-market economy and decentralized political power. The Story of American Freedom is a sweeping synthesis, delivered in clearheaded language that makes the ongoing nature of the American dream accessible to all readers. --Ron Hogan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Distinguished Columbia historian Foner frames American history as a continuing fight for freedom.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From The Washington Post
In The Story of American Freedom, Foner has extended his reach, exploring how Americans have agreed and disagreed over the meaning of freedom, from the revolutionary era to the mid-1990s. Broadly synthetic, this ambitious book looks at the entire sweep of American history through the lens of freedom: who had it and who didn't, how people thought about it, spoke about it, wrote about it, claimed it, and lamented its misuse. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
The concept of "freedom" as a driving force in American history is often dismissed by Marxists, neo-Beardians, and revisionists as a smoke screen to cover the clash of competing economic interests. Foner, professor of history at Columbia University, acknowledges that different groups put different slants on the meaning of freedom. He also deals effectively with the exclusion of various groups from the benefits of freedom. Nevertheless, Foner sees America's commitment to freedom as a genuine, living ideal, which has inspired its citizens and driven them to heights of achievement and sacrifice. In a panorama of the struggle for freedom, Foner provides interesting insights into the labor movement, feminism, and the struggle for civil rights. This work will be a worthy addition to a public library's American history collection. Jay Freeman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Eric Foner's brilliant, important book . . . shows how, having invoked liberty to justify their independence in 1776, Americans have fought ever since over what that freedom means and who may enjoy its blessings -- Los Angeles Times Book Review
Wonderfully readable . . . an excellent choice for serious readers. -- New York Times Book Review
