Voices of the People: Social Stratification of Political Participation
The poor and minorities in the U.S., even some affluent members of the middle class feel alienated from the political system. Unlike other democracies, lower income people are dropping out of the electorate in the U. S. ..
Voices of the People: U. S. Voter Turnout Lags Behind Other Democracies
If you look at the long history of American engagement in the political process, the vast expansion of the franchise in the 20th century is ironically tied to a decline in political participation. Voter turnout in the U...
Voter's Challenge, The
Former White House press secretary Mike McCurry talks about the challenge voters face before elections, when they are bombarded with information from the media that is frequently unaccompanied by analysis. In the end, Mr..
War and Rebuilding in Iraq
Professor of Sociology and History Craig Calhoun talks about the sociological dimensions of the rebuilding effort during the war in Iraq. He focuses on the challenge of bringing together vast numbers of people with diffe..
War of 1812, The
Historian Peter Onuf talks about the War of 1812, which he says the United States "...had to fight without the benefit of a national bank (and) without the institutions that were absolutely necessary to mobilize resource..
Warrior to Priest...Presidents of the Early 1900s: Accidental President, The
Theodore Roosevelt becomes the youngest man to assume the presidency when William McKinley is assassinated in 1901. Although in journalistic histories he is often portrayed as an impulsive, immature figure, Roosevelt is ..
Warrior to Priest...Presidents of the Early 1900s: Federal Government as Mediator of the Public Good
Roosevelt does not consider the federal government the agent of any particular interest, only public interest. During his presidency, he argues for public accountability of corporations and files more than 40 antitrust s..
Warrior to Priest...Presidents of the Early 1900s: Panama Canal, The
The United States' new sense of itself as world power is evidenced by its plan to build a canal across a narrow stretch of land in Central America. When Roosevelt's Secretary of State John Hay is unsuccessful in his atte..
Warrior to Priest...Presidents of the Early 1900s: Panic of 1907, The
The Panic of 1907 illustrates how little control the federal government has over the industrial economy. When the stock market goes into free fall, J. P. Morgan attempts to halt the panic by guaranteeing he "will cover a..
Warrior to Priest...Presidents of the Early 1900s: Roosevelt and Conservation
Theodore Roosevelt is involved with Gifford Pinchot and Carl Schurz in conservation efforts as early as the 1890s. As the first director of National Forest Service, Pinchot establishes a legacy of government involvement ..