Introduction : the Constitution and the mirror -- The white Constitution -- The Christian Constitution -- The nativist Constitution -- The businessman's Constitution -- The partisan Constitution -- The violent Constitution -- Conclusion : nationalism without the Constitution
Summary:
"The insurrection on the US Capitol on January 6, 2020, was described as an assault on the Constitution itself, an attack on the core idea of what it means to be American. The nation, in the minds of most people today, is defined by the principles and ideals set forth in its founding document. According to President Obama in his second inaugural, "What makes us exceptional-what makes us American-is our allegiance to an idea." But this idea has little meaning beyond commitment to the Constitution itself. While Americans across the political spectrum are enamored with the Constitution-what Jared Goldstein calls constitutional nationalism-the Constitution frequently provides neutral, patriotic cover for widely varying, and often pernicious, values and commitments. In Real Americans, Goldstein examines the way Americans have promoted exclusionary, nativistic, racist, and violent efforts precisely on the grounds of defending the Constitution. Through meticulous research, Goldstein explores the dark side of constitutional nationalism. Beginning with the long history of the Ku Klux Klan's efforts to defend a white Constitution, Goldstein then surveys the attempt by religious nationalists to create an exclusively Christian Constitution, the anti-immigrant promotion of a nativist Constitution, the corporate support for a libertarian Constitution, the Tea Party's endeavor to establish a partisan Constitution in opposition to the Democratic Party, and finally the violent actions by militia groups and domestic terrorists in support of their constitutional vision of national identity. Each of these groups perceived themselves as representing and defending what it means to be truly American and mobilized campaigns based on constitutional demands and ideals. American history is the history of competing interpretations of who counts as a true American, and in each case, the Constitution has been used to support these interpretations-often to the point of violence. Real Americans sheds light on a history most people would like to ignore"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.