550: Unit 2
History 550: Politics and Public Policy, Winter, 2024-25
Part II: America's Two Coalition System": Shifting factions, evolving ideologies
12. The Rise of New Deal Liberalism
READ: 550 Readings Book 2: 2-6 AND, in the Appendix, Alterman & Mattson, The Cause, pp. 2-12 (the page numbers of the original book).
The reading traces the development of American political ideologies through three phases: Hamilton v. Jefferson; Whigs v. Democrats; and Liberals v. Conservatives (there’ll be more on the conservatives later). A lot of this should be review from your US history class, which most folks take in 11th grade. Feel free to bring in information you may recall from taking US history.
For tomorrow, make sure you have purchased the book from the bookstore.
13. The rise of conservatism
READ Story & Laurie, Rise of Conservatism, 1-20, and documents 5, 7, 9, 11
What are the key differences between liberals and conservatives?
14. The Politics of Backlash
READ Alterman & Mattson, excerpts, 238-284; and Story & Laurie, documents 15, 20, 24, 37.
QF: Racism, pure and simple, explains the defection of white working class voters from the Democratic Party.
15. The triumph of conservatism.
READ Story & Laurie, 20-31 & document #30; Alterman & Mattson, excerpts, 360-427.
VIEW: This Bush campaign ad that was mentioned on p. 21 of Story and Laurie. And these two videos from "The West Wing" TV series. Bruno; and "Liberal".
QFs: Democrats pushed the white working class away; Republicans lured them in; Racism was a factor. The DLC saved the Democratic Party.
16. Populism and anti-populism
READ: 550 Readings packet, book 2: 7-23; & VIEW: The Rant that Started the Tea Party Movement
QF: Populism is mostly about scapegoating "enemies of the people."
Take a few minutes to prepare for our METIC. Get a blank piece of white paper, and write about the quality of Harkness/the learning environment in this class. Make two lists. What is going well. What could be improved upon. Tuck this piece of paper into a book that you bring to class every day. During class, we'll pass these around and read them anonymously and then have a discussion about them.
17. For and Against Populism
READ: Mounk, "The Populist Threat to Liberal Democracy" (in the appendix); and The HANDOUT I gave you, which is from the same book by Frank that we read in the previous class. VIEW: this video, with Anne Case and Angus Deaton on "deaths of despair."
QF: Populism is what democracy looks like.
18. Polarization
READ: 550 Readings Book 2: 23-50
QF: The media is exaggerating polarization
19. Depolarization
READ: 550 Readings Book 2: 50-72.
QF: Depolarization is our only hope
20. Second writing assignment.
21. Depolarization
READ: 550 Readings Book 2: 72-85 (Note: this is a short reading. The next two are long)
QF: HIS550 students will go on to be agents of depolarization ..... right?
Take the More In Common Hidden Tribes Quiz.