A Basic History of the United States, Volume 5: The Welfare State 1929-1985

A Basic History Of The United States #5

by Clarence B. Carson

Carson's full-scale treatment of American history combines scholarly exactness with evocative passages that lead the listener to a clearer understanding of the people and events, the triumphs and the shortcomings, which have shaped this nation. This fifth volume commences with the Great Depression and takes us to the mid-eighties. As the author of Basic Economics, Carson is well-suited to diagnose the causes of the stock market crash and the years of economic depression which followed. Further discussions include the New Deal, the National Labor Relations Act, the start of Social Security, World War II, the Cold War, welfare in the US and abroad, black activism, the Cultural Revolution, Vietnam, the rise of the Conservative movement, Nixon and Watergate, the Carter presidency, and the beginning of the Reagan years.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Audiobook

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[John Marcucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great multi-purpose book. Great for a high school classroom, homeschooling, but also anyone wanting to brush up on American history. The text is smooth and flowing and the sidebar graphics are brief and pertinent, in no way a distraction. Carson's view of history is politically incorrect but not hyper partisan. A very cool and objective tone.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very informative book with a balanced view of political parties of the period. I learned a lot from this book, but had to force myself onward because of the rather thick nature of Carson's writing.

[Bob Bingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good survey of U.S. history from Hoover through Reagan's first term. The author does take the establishment (court historian) view of WWII and the JFK assassination but otherwise it is a satisfactory account of American welfarism (at home and abroad).

[Daniel]

340 pages

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

[This review is a brief & very general summary of the series]

Clarence Carson takes an openly conservative and Christian approach (but after all, how many history books don't contain bias, however well disguised?) to the history of the United States. That's refreshing. Whether you agree or disagree with what he writes, at least it will spur discussion from both sides of the aisle, which is so often frowned upon in many classrooms (Carson himself is not afraid to take swipes at some of the conservatives favorite men of history). Sometimes he does get too detailed on certain issues, which bogs down the flow, so certain readers might find themselves skimming through those sections. That being said, however, we can see that he's a man who takes this subject seriously.

It is to be hoped that anybody reading this series will approach it with an open mind, let the facts of history speak for themselves, and then determine whether the actions taken by our nation's leaders past and present reflect both what is circumscribed by their constitutionally defined limitations and whether those actions have created a better America.