The Nation That Never Was: Reconstructing America's Story

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Synopsis
&“Persuasively argues that we must liberate ourselves from our sentimentalized attachment to the &‘Founders&’ and even the Declaration of Independence&” --Sanford Levinson, author of Our Undemocratic Constitution There&’s a common story we tell about America: that our fundamental values as a country were stated in the Declaration of Independence, fought for in the Revolution, and made law in the Constitution. But, with the country increasingly divided, this story isn&’t working for us anymore—what&’s more, it&’s not even true. As Kermit Roosevelt argues in this eye-opening reinterpretation of the American story, our fundamental values, particularly equality, are not part of the vision of the Founders. Instead, they were stated in Lincoln&’s Gettysburg Address and were the hope of Reconstruction, when it was possible to envision the emergence of the nation committed to liberty and equality. We face a dilemma these days. We want to be honest about our history and the racism and oppression that Americans have both inflicted and endured. But we want to be proud of our country, too. In The Nation That Never Was, Roosevelt shows how we can do both those things by realizing we&’re not the country we thought we were. Reconstruction, Roosevelt argues, was not a fulfillment of the ideals of the Founding but rather a repudiation: we modern Americans are not the heirs of the Founders but of the people who overthrew and destroyed that political order. This alternate understanding of American identity opens the door to a new understanding of ourselves and our story, and ultimately to a better America. &“An inspiring reexamination of America's past.&” —Publishers Weekly &“Compelling and well worth consideration.&” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Copyright:
2022

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
256 Pages
ISBN-13:
9780226817620
Related ISBNs:
9780226817613
Publisher:
The University of Chicago Press
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
The University of Chicago
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
History, Nonfiction, Law, Legal Issues and Ethics, Politics and Government
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

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