American History, Annotated Bibliography Example

Hofstadter, Richard. The Paranoid Style in American Politics, And Other Essays. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1965.

Published in the wake of the Goldwater insurgency, this book was aimed at the radical American right. Hofstadter argues that the distorted and paranoid style of politics is not limited to the United States. He adds that “happens to be an Americanist,” and the American politics for him was a choice of convenience. An acclaimed historian, Hofstadter’s work is regarded as a classic that aimed to show how much political mileage can be gained from passions and animosities towards minorities. By discussing the activities of extremist right wing groups that have a major influence on the outcomes of American electoral politics, Hofstadter is able to share a new perspective on present day domestic issues. He is able to show how the extremist groups can influence and even derail the agenda of the main political parties in American politics. The book is an influential historical text that also includes other classic essays such as “Free Silver and the Mind of ‘Coin’ Harvey” and “What Happened to the Antitrust Movement?”

Washington, George and Nathaniel Greene. Military Strategies: On a Limited Budget Boston: Colonial Press, 1799.

This book was written for not only the general audience but also professional military strategists and historians. The book basically discusses the financial crises that affected the forces involved in the American Revolution. Washington and Greene successfully show the importance of access to foreign currency, which played a critical role in the execution of this war. This book is a first-hand account of the hard financial times experienced by the military strategists. The authors also provide a list of books that they relied on to plan military strategy. Washington and Greene are considered the best generals in American history thus this book is by extension a valuable resource for anyone who seeks to understand the link between economics and military strategy. Chapter two particularly stands out because it provides an overview of how the Generals planned for the famous battle of Manhattan.

Journal Articles

Adams, Samuel, John Adams and Paul Revere and edited by G. I. History “The Importance of Beer and Taverns in the American Revolution.” American Journal of Social History. 97.3 (2008), 354-382.

This journal article highlights the critical role played by beer and pubs in the emergence of the American rebellion. The authors argue that discussions about the rebellion were often held at the taverns and it is from there that the war was popularized. What is presented in the article is informed by information provided by three revolutionaries regarding their experience in the taverns. It also provides a discussion of the different social classes and the different places they converged. From the article, the readers can see that the revolutionaries were also fighting for liberty but the way the term was understood among various classes was relative. The different authors had varying experiences in the revolution and thus they write each from their own perspective. This article provides a literature review as well as an extensive bibliography. Moreover, the summary and conclusion present a useful overview that can be used by other scholars to base their conclusion on.

Foner, Nancy. “Immigrant Women and Work in New York City, Then and Now.” Journal of American Ethnic History 18, no. 3 (1999): 95–113.

This article discusses the different experiences of immigrant women from different races after they arrived in the United States. Foner compares and contrasts the experiences of Jewish women from eastern and those of Italian descent who arrived in America between 1880 and 1920, to those of Asian, African, and Latin American origin who arrived in the country in the 60s. Jewish women mostly moved to America with their husbands and children and had little chance for education and careers since they were home keepers. The earlier migrants were expected to work as laborers only up until they got married and then they could only rely on their husbands’ income. However, the trend is different for more recent immigrants as some women even came into the country by themselves. The new immigrants continue working even after marriage and some have professional careers, and are the breadwinners for their families. However, Foner notes that despite the progress in the status of immigrant women, all barriers have not been eliminated.

Other Sources

Jacobson, Matthew Frye. Whiteness of a Different Color. Harvard University Press, 1999.

This book suggests that the problem of race in America is a social fabrication. The author argues that race is often used to give validity to the opinions of some groups while denying the others. Jacobson is able to show that racism is a caused by politics and culture and not nature. Racism is meant to create the notion of us versus them. Although it began from the color of the skin, it has gradually shifted into prejudice against anyone who is perceived to be an outsider and not white American. Originally, it was black Americans and Native Americans who were discriminated against for their color, religion and the mentality that they could not self-govern. However, the immigration of white Irish and Germany populations into America changed that and soon whiteness became hierarchical based on status. However, unity among the Caucasians rose and black Americans now faced increased racism when they travelled up north. However, the divisions nowadays are designed to classify people into Caucasian, negroid, and mongoloid, categories which have propagated racism up to date.

Whitaker, Matthew C, and Matthew C Whitaker. Race Work. University Of Nebraska Press, 2005.

This book talks about the civil rights movement in Arizona and how it continues to affect modern day west. Mathew gives an account of the experiences of Lincoln and Eleanor Ragsdale with the civil rights movement. According to Whitaker and Whitaker, black people in Arizona experienced segregation and discrimination but it was not as violent as in the south. As evidence, the authors provide examples of civil rights activists in Phoenix from 1945 to 1995. This book argues that some regions were more accommodating to social change compared to others.