American Identity

by Patrick N. Allitt

What defines an American? Is it the love of liberty, the pursuit of justice, the urge to invent, the desire for wealth, the drive to explore, the quest for spiritual values?

The paradox of the American identity is that although the United States is a melting pot of many different traditions, motives, and ideals, there are nevertheless distinctive qualities that define the American character.

In this course, historian Patrick N. Allitt investigates the national character by introducing you to notable Americans from all eras of the nation's history, whose lives speak eloquently about the qualities that make one truly American.

Focusing on various character traits and attitudes that have indelibly shaped the national psyche, Dr. Allitt takes you on a journey from the very first settlers to the present, showing how certain characteristics have been passed down through time, and also how certain traits and beliefs have changed over time.

You will learn about the famous (like Thomas Jefferson), the infamous (like Al Capone), and the relatively unknown (like Emma Goldman). Each person covered in this course manifests certain characteristics that are quintessentially part of the American identity, or reveal some underlying aspect of the American identity.

A Deeper Understanding of Trends and Ideas

The figures in these lectures led fascinating lives. And while the course is enjoyable simply as a well-told series of biographies, it does much more, helping you gain a deeper understanding of the trends and ideas that shaped America and that continue to influence American society today. For

The 17th-century Puritan leader Cotton Mather is the spiritual ancestor of today's vogue for political correctness, which Professor Allitt sees as a secular transfiguration of the Puritan belief that you can think, do, and say the right things and gradually get rid of the wrong things.
The Civil War-era landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted combined public park construction and anti-slavery advocacy, spurred by the conviction that each contributed to fulfilling his ideal of a society where citizens are free, educated, genteel, and able to maintain contact with rural conditions.
The late 19th-century industrialist Andrew Carnegie helped create a pattern of philanthropy in which business leaders who succeeded by ruthless methods sanitized their reputations by endowing universities and other institutions. "It wasn't a trend which was taking place elsewhere in the world," says Professor Allitt.
The 20th-century columnist William F. Buckley, Jr., was among the first Americans to take pride in the conservative label, which Americans had long resisted attaching to themselves. Buckley transformed the image and idiom of conservatism, with consequences that persist into the 21st century.
What You Will Learn

Each lecture in this course takes as its subject a single individual or pair of individuals. Each person is then treated in terms of a particular activity, which is reflected in the lecture's for example, "Frederick Douglass—The Abolitionist" or "Samuel Gompers—The Trade Unionist." The four parts of the course follow a roughly chronological

Part I introduces a series of powerful figures from colonial America, who imparted their imaginativeness, forcefulness, and energy to the American tradition. Among them are the explorer and colonial founder John Smith; the religious liberty advocate, Quaker, and colonial founder William Penn; the great Puritan intellectual Cotton Mather; and the astonishing 18th-century polymath Benjamin Franklin. This part climaxes with the revolutionary generation and the men and women who had to make the difficult transition from being British subjects to being American citizens. Some among them, such as First Lady Abigail Adams, set the tone and style for a long line of successors.

Part II considers influential Americans of the early 19th century, many of whom were involved in the great controversy over whether the nation would maintain or overthrow the slave system, and who collectively energized the young republic's astonishing economic growth. Two writers from this group, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott, bear witness to the maturing of a distinctive American literary and philosophical culture.

Part III picks up the story after the convulsions of the Civil War, highlighting the men and women who turned America into a first-class industrial nation dedicated to sustained economic growth, and who enabled the republic to stretch, in reality rather than just aspiration, from ocean to ocean.

Part IV shows how America's diversity flowered in the mid-20th century, as new waves of immigrants were assimilated and began to play a role in every facet of national life. This was also a time when America developed a global reach, personified in such international heroes as aviator Charles Lindbergh, such war leaders as General Douglas MacArt...

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, American History, Audiobook, Politics, Spirituality

25 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Doug O'laughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting take of American history. Instead of a top down approach of broad strokes over the history of America, Patrick Allitt builds a picture piece by piece through vignettes of notable Americans' lives.

Also get to know a few interesting and relatively unknown individuals in the history of America.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Allitt has created a wonderfully entertaining and informative set of lectures in which he profiles 50 or so 'typical' Americans (specifically folks from the US) who had gained, during their lifetime, a modicum of notoriety. From the proto-American John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) to the controversial Jesse Jackson. From the clearly famous or infamous like Thomas Jefferson, Al Capone, Herbert Hoover and Wild Bill, to the relatively obscure with Emma Goldman, Isabella Gardner, Ann Lee, and David Rittenhouse. Each individual thumbnail biography tells a story of what the good Professor describes as the American spirit...sometimes a rags-to-riches inspirational story, sometimes a ruthless success story fueled by self-interest (please read MrDarcy's fine review on The Great Courses)...each story meant to exemplify the fruits of intelligence, adventurousness, courage and hard work.
Each lectures is a standalone survey, but should be enjoyed as a whole...you won't be disappointed.

Highly recommend...sale/coupon combo works well.

[Mary Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an excellent purchase. Of late I've found myself sort of fascinated by American history (both the general stuff we already know and are taught in schools, in addition to the newer, quirkier material). If you also fall into the same camp and enjoy listening to lectures (audiobook style), this is well worth your time.

I am fascinated that Professor Allitt is originally from Great Britain and now lives in the US. Perhaps getting the perspective of someone who lived outside but is clearly qualified to address American history in general and aspects of the American identity in specific is essential.

I like that so much material is spent on the early figures such as John Smith, Benjamin Franklin, and Cotton Mather. It makes sense, after all, to call attention to the earliest figures who clearly inspired others. Allitt does not include many US presidents: he includes only Thomas Jefferson and Herbert Hoover. There are also quite a few religious figures addressed, such as Mother Ann Lee, Brigham Young, and George Wallace. There's even an anarchist: Emma Goldman. (I admit that I'm really curious to learn about her.) There are also surprising inclusions in Harry Houdini, Frederick Law Olmstead, and Al Capone. There are war generals, inventors, scientists, and writers.

I admit that I may not be super-qualified in terms of who to include and who to leave out, but some of the inclusions truly confused me: William Mulholland, Isabella Stewart Gardner, and Leonard Bernstein. But there will always be someone who disagrees.

Overall I am really very pleased that I listened to this series.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on people in American History (not inventors or scientists or presidents (except 1), a wide variety of personalities. There was a discussion of the lives of several women, African Americans, as well as, famous people who had an impact on the American identity. We sometimes forget the strength of who we are has been increased by the variety and exposure to different thinking and ideas. The lecturer has always found it fascinating that we include people of different languages, who progeny work actively to speak the American language and include themselves in American culture.

[Josh Steimle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to this lecture series makes one realize how many individuals contributed to America as we know it today, and how little we know about these people. This lecture series gives you 30-minute biographies of 46 of them, and yet despite the masterful delivery and great content, I felt as though I had just begun to learn about each one of these people, and that there must be hundreds more with stories just as interesting.

[Gebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent if you're looking for an exploration of famous Americans. Especially if you're interested in people not necessarily covered often in history like Houdini.

[Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allitt chose to describe the American identity by choosing ~50 exemplars and giving a brief biography of each. I think this approach would be more compelling as a non-American listener. He does briefly call out the specific characteristics that relate to being American, and has a summary lecture that serves a similar purpose. I found this more interesting as a collection of biographies than as a depiction of a nation's identity.

[Samwell Raleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

In parts, interesting. As a whole, not incredibly satisfying. There was little rhyme or reason as to his selections for people to focus on. It would have been nicer to see more general arcs that aligned with the stated American values at the beginning. And each lecture ended on a weird, semi-forced positive note that rang quite hollow. Not my favorite Great Courses lecture.

[Norjak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looks at prominent historical figures in NA primarily in chronological order. The idea is for those to be representative of different facets of the American Identity. Mostly felt like a 1 Ch/character who's who.

[h · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than I expected from the title. Interesting & informative it is.

[Dayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

One can learn a lot about how Americans are "seen" when visiting other countries, either by traveling or by listening to Professor Allitt's course.

[Ash Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this course, Patrick Allitt gives us a broad overview of American history through a series of 48 lectures, each one a mini-biography of a wide variety of notable and representative American figures, from John Smith all the way through Betty Friedan. Along the way, he introduces us to religious figures (from Mother Ann Lee to Brigham Young to Jesse Jackson), war heroes (Frances Marion, William T. Sherman, Douglas MacArthur), explorers and pioneers (Lewis and Clark, John Wesley Powell, Charles Lindbergh), inventors and entrepreneurs (Benjamin Franklin, Eli Whitney, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford), artists and entertainers (Frederick Law Olmsted, Harry Houdini, Duke Ellington, Roberto Clemente), and more.[return][return]Professor Allitt is British, and it's interesting hearing a foreigner's take on America. That puts him in a long tradition going back to Alexis de Tocqueville, and he agrees with many of de Tocqueville's observations. In the end, he concludes, what defines Americans is our shared belief in progress and a sense of idealism that drives it, even if we don't always agree on or live up to those ideals. If nothing else, this keeps us moving forward.[return][return]Professor Allitt is a wealth of knowledge and an excellent lecturer. I learned a lot while at the same time he kept me entertained. I highly recommend this or any of his lecture courses.[return][return]http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LM2A8F...