Historical Roots of American Fascism: Gilded Age to WWI and the First Red Scare

Take part in the Political Strategy Study Group’s sweeping look at the history and political significance of the major waves of struggle and counter-revolution in the United States.

In June, we will read and discuss selections on the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Howard Zinn’s classic classic People’s History of the United States and Steven Hahn’s Illiberal America with supplementary readings suggested and circulated by participants.

We continue have three points of reference: 

1. Sources, strengths, and strategies of the waves of popular struggle, including the theme of “Abolition Democracy” introduced by W.E.B. Du Bois. 
2. Evolving forms of reaction and repression, especially their roots in white supremacy 
3. Strategic reflections on the era from the vantage point of the present moment. 

We envision an overall year-long plan of study, divided into historical units. You can join at any time:

1. Settler-colonial expansion – freedom struggles and response, focusing on Texas
2. The Civil War and Reconstruction
3. The Repression of Radical Labor
4. Post World War I to the Rise of the Modern Political Right 
5. Black Freedom struggles and the Carceral State
6. Neoliberalism, post neoliberalism, and Late Fascism

And throughout, supplementary readings and presentations to reflect directly on the present day.

In order to give our major book selections the time they need, and also make room for supplementary readings suggested by the group, we expect this reading group to continue through the year. We will read and discuss against the backdrop of the ongoing political ferment under the Trump regime. 

The class syllabus is in progress, along with this bibliography of supplementary readings.

Convened by Steve Backman and Rebecca Minnich, supported by Fred Murphy and Carl Davidson