| Edition |
First edition. |
| Description |
xvii, 286 pages ; 24 cm |
| Summary |
"From historian and author of the popular daily newsletter LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN, a vital narrative that explains how America, once a beacon of democracy, now teeters on the brink of autocracy -- and how we can turn back. In the midst of the impeachment crisis of 2019, Heather Cox Richardson launched a daily Facebook essay providing the historical background of the daily torrent of news. The essays soon turned into a newsletter and, spread by word of mouth, its readership ballooned to more than 2 million dedicated readers who rely on its plainspoken and informed take on the present and past in America. In Democracy Awakening, Richardson crafts a compelling and original narrative, explaining how, over the decades, a small group of wealthy people have made war on American ideals. By weaponizing language and promoting false history they have led us into authoritarianism -- creating a disaffected population and then promising to recreate an imagined past where those people could feel important again. She argues that taking our country back starts by remembering the elements of the nation's true history that marginalized Americans have always upheld. Their dedication to the principles on which this nation was founded has enabled us to renew and expand our commitment to democracy in the past. Richardson sees this history as a roadmap for the nation's future. Richardson's unique talent is to wrangle our giant, meandering, confusing news feed into a coherent story that singles out what we should pay attention to, what the historical roots and precedents are, and what possible paths lie ahead. Writing in her trademark calm prose, she manages to be both realistic and optimistic about the future of democracy. Richardson's easy command of history allows her to pivot effortlessly from the Founders to the abolitionists to Reconstruction to Goldwater to Mitch McConnell, highlighting the political legacies of the New Deal, the lingering fears of socialism, the death of the liberal consensus and birth of "movement conservatism." There are many books that tell us what has happened over the last five years. Democracy Awakening explains how we got to this perilous point, what our history really tells us about ourselves, and what the future of democracy can be"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (page [257]-273) and index. |
| Contents |
Foreword -- Part 1: Undermining democracy. American conservatism -- The liberal consensus -- Bringing the Declaration of Independence to life -- Race and taxes -- Nixon and the southern strategy -- Positive polarization -- The Reagan revolution -- Skewing the system -- A new global project -- Illegitimate democracy -- Part 2: The authoritarian experiment. A snapshot of America -- A shocking event -- Russia, Russia, Russia -- The streets of Charlottesville -- The first impeachment -- Destabilizing the government -- Embracing authoritarianism -- Rewriting American history -- January 6 -- The big lie -- Part 3: Reclaiming America. What is America? -- Declaring independence -- The Constitution -- Expanding democracy -- Mudsills or men -- Of the people, by the people, for the people -- American renewed -- A progressive America -- The road to the New Deal -- Democracy awakening -- Conclusion: Reclaiming our country. |
| Subject |
Democracy -- United States -- History.
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Elite (Social sciences) -- United States.
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Rich people -- Political activity.
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United States -- History -- Errors, inventions, etc.
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Common fallacies -- United States.
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Conspiracies -- United States.
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Authoritarianism -- United States -- History.
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HISTORY / United States.
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POLITICAL SCIENCE / Civics & Citizenship.
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POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / Democracy.
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Authoritarianism. (OCoLC)fst00821640
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Common fallacies. (OCoLC)fst01430086
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Conspiracies. (OCoLC)fst00875715
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Democracy. (OCoLC)fst00890077
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Elite (Social sciences) (OCoLC)fst00908113
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United States. (OCoLC)fst01204155
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| Genre/Form |
History. (OCoLC)fst01411628
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| Other Form: |
Online version: Richardson, Heather Cox. Democracy awakening First edition. [New York] : Viking, [2023] 9780593652978 (DLC) 2023006035 |
| ISBN |
9780593652961 (hardcover) |
|
0593652967 (hardcover) |
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