The end of the myth : from the frontier to the border wall in the mind of America / Greg Grandin.
"Ever since this nation's inception, the idea of an open and ever-expanding frontier has been central to American identity. Symbolizing a future of endless promise, it was the foundation of the United States' belief in itself as an exceptional nation--democratic, individualistic, forward-looking. Today, though, America has a new symbol: the border wall. In The End of the Myth, acclaimed historian Greg Grandin explores the meaning of the frontier throughout the full sweep of U.S. history--from the American Revolution to the War of 1898, the New Deal to the election of 2016. For centuries, he shows, America's constant expansion--fighting wars and opening markets--served as a "gate of escape," helping to deflect domestic political and economic conflicts outward. But this deflection meant that the country's problems, from racism to inequality, were never confronted directly. And now, the combined catastrophe of the 2008 financial meltdown and our unwinnable wars in the Middle East have slammed this gate shut, bringing political passions that had long been directed elsewhere back home. It is this new reality, Grandin says, that explains the rise of reactionary populism and racist nationalism, the extreme anger and polarization that catapulted Trump to the presidency. The border wall may or may not be built, but it will survive as a rallying point, an allegorical tombstone marking the end of American exceptionalism"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781250179821
- ISBN: 1250179823
- ISBN: 9781250214850
- ISBN: 1250214858
- Physical Description: xii, 369 pages : maps ; 21 cm
- Edition: First edition
- Publisher: New York : Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2019.
- Copyright: ©2019
Content descriptions
- General Note:
- Winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 293-352) and index.Includes bibliographical references and index.
- Formatted Contents Note:
- Introduction : fleeing forward -- All that space -- The alpha and the omega -- A Caucasian democracy -- The safety valve -- Are you ready for all these wars? -- The true relief -- The outer edge -- The pact of 1898 -- Fortress on the frontier -- A psychological twist -- Society became atomic -- A demonic suction tube -- More, more, more -- The new preëmptor -- The desert is a big place -- Epilogue : the significance of the wall in American history.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Turner, Frederick Jackson, 1861-1932 > Criticism and interpretation.
Frontier thesis.
Borderlands > United States.
National characteristics, American.
Exceptionalism > United States.
Nationalism > United States > History > 20th century.
Mexican-American Border Region > Public opinion.
United States > Politics and government > 2017-2021.
Available copies
- 19 of 19 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
- 1 of 1 copy available at McDowell County Public Library.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 19 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Library | 973 GRA (Text) | 37810435790125 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
