At a time when the very foundations of democracy seem under threat, the lessons of the past offer a roadmap for navigating a moment of political crisis. In Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America (Viking, 2023), historian Heather Cox Richardson delves into the tumultuous journey of American democracy, revealing how the roots of Donald Trump’s “authoritarian experiment” can be traced back through the earliest days of the republic.
She examines the historical forces that have led to the current political climate, and argues that modern conservatism has preyed upon a disaffected population, weaponizing language and promoting false history to consolidate power.
Richardson’s command of history and trademark plainspoken prose allow her to pivot effortlessly from the Founders to the abolitionists to Reconstruction to Nixon to the January 6th Insurrection, highlighting the political legacies of the New Deal, the lingering fears of socialism, the death of the liberal consensus, and the birth of “movement conservatism.”
In Democracy Awakening Richardson reminds us that democracy is not a static institution but a living, evolving process that requires constant vigilance and participation.
Heather Cox Richardson is a professor of history at Boston College and an expert on American political and economic history. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning How the South Won the Civil War. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Guardian, among other outlets. Her widely read newsletter, Letters from an American, synthesizes history and modern political issues.
UPCOMING EVENT
Heather Cox Richardson will be in conversation with Massachusetts Historical Society President Catherine Allgor at the Society in Boston and online on Monday, May 6, 2024, from 6 until 7 pm EST.
This is a hybrid event. The in-person reception at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston starts at 5 pm and the program will begin at 6 pm. The virtual program begins at 6 pm and will be hosted on the video conference platform Zoom. Registrants will receive a confirmation message with attendance information.
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