The American Paradox: A History of the United States Since 1945 Book

This new text/reader for courses in recent American history emphasizes political participation and popular culture. Its main theme is the relationship of Americans to their government—for example, how Americans as a people remain skeptical of big government even as they expect it to facilitate large programs such as Social Security.Unlike most postwar American history books that are presented in one volume and tend to emphasize the 1950s and 60s, The American Paradox comes in a complete version and a version that covers U.S. history since 1968, providing full coverage and analysis of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.Each chapter contains one or two primary sources, more than any other competing text. The documents include Nixon's 1969 address to the nation about Vietnam, a Stonewall-era statement from the gay rights activist Sylvia (Ray) Rivera, and Phyllis Schlafly's argument against the Equal Rights Amendment.Read More