American Attitudes Toward Social Change, 1860-1890

FAIN: FA-11508-76

Rush Welter
Bennington College (Bennington, VT 05201-6004)

To examine, in a book, American attitudes toward social change in the period 1860 to 1890. Grantee will study rapid changes in the economy, the unplanned growth of cities, and deepening social distress. The book is intended to carry forward the analysis of American thought begun in grantee's earlier work The Mind of America, 1820-1860. The work now being undertaken will focus on the public thought of relatively ordinary men and women, whose beliefs are best represented in such vehicles of opinion as newspapers, legislative and constitutional debates, party tracts, and similar publications.