This is the second book by David Kennedy that I've had the pleasure of reading, and once again, his narrative is both scholarly and well written. This account is an examination of the impact of war, in this case, World War I on American society. Some of the subjects discussed include the progressive movement in the United States (represented at the highest level by President Wilson), the economic situation and the changes (in some cases lack of) that occurred during the war period, and the legacies left in the war's aftermath. The social aspects of American society are also touched upon, such as the eventual migration of blacks from the South into the cities, the women's movement, and so forth.
Many influential politicians, writers, and other figures are mentioned throughout the book, not just in the political sphere, but also in the industrial and labor sectors (especially Samuel Gompers). Kennedy's book covers a very broad topic, but his analysis throughout is cogent and well thought out. For example, despite the clamor for a more active government as espoused by many liberals and progressives, Wilson and others were reluctant to use the wheels of government to effect great social and economic changes. Kennedy gives a lot of focus to the progressive movement in this country, an obviously fascinating topic considering the ambitious goals of many of its leaders.
The more conservative groups and leaders in the country are also discussed. The isolationist and economic protectionist sentiments that ran deep in the souls of many Americans provided a good framework for understanding the clash of ideas permeating the debates surrounding our country's new found role in the world. Wilson, as Kennedy concludes, offered a radical departure from the past. Whether Wilsonianism was what was best for the country, his articulated philosophy has come to play a huge role in shaping our foreign policy, even to this very day.
The economic aspects of the war also receive a lot of attention. For labor, the progressives offered great promise. The 8 hour work day, the ending of child labor, the right to union, better wages and so forth usually found support in the progressive cause. In terms of industrial output and trade, America was not the economic powerhouse that it is today. We still lagged behind other countries in terms of ship production, exports, and so forth. The war would help change that, but not as noticeably as during the Second World War.
The relations between management and labor receives quite a bit of attention, especially in terms of how the Wilson administration tried to steer more of a middle of the road course in making the parts work as a whole in support of the war. Once again, this topic touches on the theme of just how involved or reluctant the federal government would become in the nation's economy, which leads in turn to questions concerning the nature and role of government in different spheres of American life. Progressives who eventually came around to supporting the war saw it as an opportunity to make their goals realized in a quicker and larger way. In the end, it proved to be a let down.
America's role in the world becomes more understood as the war progresses and after it ends. We had seen little of the actual fighting as compared to the other allies who had fought. The attitudes of the Americans who served in Europe also seemed to differ from the attitudes of those who had been fighting longer, and had as a result, seen more death and destruction. Wilson, as Kennedy mentioned, came to Europe to join the peace conference with high hopes of appealing to the masses, to try and convince others that his vision for peace offered the best hope for the future. Not everyone shared in Wilson's ideas and idealism. Indeed, Wilson faced defeat in his own country when the Congress refused to ratify the peace treaty due to it's inclusion of the league of nations, which in the eyes of conservative leaders like Lodge, threatened American sovereignty. Once again, this demonstrated the power of ingrained beliefs and traditions.
Kennedy's book is very informative and often quite provocative. There is a lot of focus on the progressive mentality during this era and how it was challenged, defeated, and yet survived. The common man doesn't come through as much in this book, but this is primarily concerned with the political and economic conditions on American society on a larger scale. He accomplishes much in this book and I was quite impressed overall. A must read.
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