Working-Class Americanism

The book presents a nuanced analysis of the rise of industrial unionism in the 1930s, challenging the idea that American workers' patriotic sentiments reflected political conservatism. Gerstle explores the complexity of Americanism as a nationalistic language that allowed for diverse ideological interpretations. Drawing on the historical materials from the Independent Textile Union of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, he reveals a richer, more radical discourse among the working class, offering fresh insights into their political landscape between the World Wars and the Cold War.