Book

The American bourgeoisie : distinction and identity in the nineteenth century

Beckert, Sven, 1965-, Rosenbaum, Julia B

Overview

\"What precisely constitutes an American bourgeoisie? Scholars have grappled with the question for a long time. Economic positions-the ownership of capital, for instance-most obviously defines this group. Control of resources cannot explain, however, the emergence of shared identities or the capacity for collective action: after all, economic interests frequently drove capital-rich Americans apart as they competed for markets or governmental favors. This book argues that one of the most important factors in this respect was the articulation of a shared culture, but this aspect has been neglected by most scholarship on the issue. This volume engages a fundamental disciplinary question about this period in American history: how did the bourgeoisie consolidate their power and fashion themselves not simply as economic leaders but as cultural innovators and arbiters? How did culture help them formulate a sense of themselves as a distinct social group with shared identities, while simultaneously setting themselves apart from other Americans?\"-- Provided by publisher.

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Subject: Middle class United States History 19th century.
• ISBN: 9780230102941, 0230102948

Item info:

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Holdings :

Call Number	Copies	Material	Location
HT690.U6 A46 2010	1	BOOK	AUTOSTORE