American Civilization [antikvár]

m Preface OUR purpose in writing this book has been to examine the mainsprings of the eivilization of the United States and to relate America s values and ideals to both her domestie situation and to her leadership of the free world. Designing a book fulfilling this purpose and simultaneously covering all aspects of the social seienees is obviously an impossible task. Even in covering only eertain aspects of each area, much material must be eondensed or omitted; only subject matter relevant to our purpose and themes is ineluded. We feel that the historieal approaeh is essential to our aims, for otherwise the proper developmental treatment is impossible. Cultures may be studied as statie phenomena only for a given period of time, for cultures are neeessarily developmental, always under somé pressure to change, and always in the proeess of change, however slow. We have been eoneerned not only with the nature of eulture and its relationship to 20th-century America, but alsó with the forees of eultural change. We have attempted to show in broad outline how 20th-century America came to be, and where we Americans are in relation to the rest of the world and to the ideals we and our ancestors have embraced. Although the approaeh to these questions has been historically orientated, it has alsó been interdisciplinary, to take advantage of the wisdom of the various social seienees. It is impossible to catalog everyone to whom we are indebted for ideas, suggestions, and criticisms, but we acknowledge our special thanks to the following colleagues: Professors Charles K. McFarland, W. Curtis Nunn, Frank T. Reuter; alsó helpful were Leland H. Jackson, Ronald M. Day of Texas Christian University, Emmett M. Essin of East Tennessee State University, and Ronald C. Tyler of Austin College. For our wives and children who remained patient and understanding through a trying and seemingly endless period, we have gratitude and admiration.