The Social Setting of Intolerance

by Seymour J. Mandelbaum

In the present volume, "The Social Setting of Intolerance," Seymore J. Mandelbaum presents for your examination three dramatic episodes of social conflict in American history. Each was a reaction to sweeping changes in American life. Each revealed strong tensions within a society which prided itself on being open and democratic. The Know-Nothing movement of the 1850's, the Red Scare of the 1920's, and McCarthyism of the 1950's illuminate some of the deep and continuing problems of a complex society.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Seymour Jacob Mandelbaum (1936-2013) was an American professor of urban history and planning at the University of Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Stephen Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful collection of primary source material covering 3 periods of American history when uncertainty and fear dominated political life: (1) the rise of the nativist Know-Nothing party during the 1850s when the role of today's Muslim was played by Catholic immigrants (2) the Red Scare of 1919-1920 during which anyone advocating for the rights of workers was viewed suspicious in light of the success of the Bolshevik Revolution. in Russia, and (3) the McCarthyism of the 1950s.
Each source document is introduced with an overview of the setting out of which it arose along with questions the student should keep in mind while reading it. These questions are the sort of questions one sees in the "Reading Comprehension" section of the SAT, revealing that the book is probably most appropriate for high-school students of American History, possibly Freshman year of college. Teachers might find it useful as a source for the source documents or the organization of lecture material on them. Students might find it useful as a reference for research papers on the periods covered.