Spreading the American Dream: American Economic and Cultural Expansion, 1890-1945

by Emily S. Rosenberg, Eric Foner

Studies the development of the American economy and society as well as the influence of this development on foreign relations and the spreading of the American culture

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, United States, Grad School, 20th Century, School

258 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1982

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

With an astonishing lack of citations or footnotes, Rosenberg traces the cultural (more interesting) and economic (slightly less interesting) ingredients of the foreign relations efforts that spread the "American dream" across the globe during the years 1890 to 1945. She roots her study in the idea of "liberal developmentalism," which combined mostly private and some public initiatives to spread "America" far and wide, instructing other nations on the lessons and laws of democracy and "free" business practices during successive periods characterized by the promotional, cooperative, and regulatory US state.

[Matthew Rohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well diversified survey of the different modes of America's soft power expansion from late 1800s through WWII and the changing role of government involvement in relation to private business ventures but the lack of citations limits its usefulness

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok historical argument marred by a tremendous lack of citation, especially given the broad generalizations and heavy quotations she uses.

[Scott Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introduced to Rosenberg's US history of foreign relations from A Century of American Historiography by Banner. Writing is really strong. No wasted words.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely informative and written logically. Not a "fun" or "exciting" ride, but certainly a well-written and knowledgeable one.

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historian Emily S. Rosenberg’s Spreading the American Dream, traces America’s global expansionism during the first half of the twentieth century. Written in a somewhat dry, textbook style, without footnotes or references, this book looks at the country’s economic and cultural expansion from 1890 to 1945 as it changed from a primarily private endeavor led by American business to one dominated by government.
An interesting book in many ways, but the author gives an unbalanced view, with a bias to the economic aspects and only touching lightly on the cultural. In the introduction the author states that she wants readers to consider if America, in its expansionist mood, fell victim to the same sins as other expansionist powers, but except for slight references to the many contradictions in the American message to the world, she doesn’t offer much to enable a reader to come to any logical conclusion.
For example, when she talks about the great Chicago Exposition of the late 1800s, she points out that America’s prowess in manufacturing agricultural implements was showcased while the over production, land misuse, and crushing debt faced by American family farms was ignored. Nowhere in the book, for example, does she address the stark contradiction between the American cultural message about its exceptionalism and the way it treated women (who make up half the population) or minorities (blacks and Native Americans). While selling the American dream to other countries, it was withholding that dream from a significant percentage of its own citizens. She does point out many of the contradictions in the economic sphere—America pushing for free and open trade while fiercely protecting its own industries—a case of do as I say, not as I do.
Despite these deficiencies, the book is useful to anyone who wants to understand the beginning of American global hegemony. It only needs other material to fill in all the blanks.
I received this book as a gift. For months, I let is gather dust on my book shelf, until the 2016 election and the question of America’s place in the world began to occupy my thoughts more and more. While I was not wildly impressed by it, I’m glad that I read it nonetheless. It gives me a point of departure for further reading and study. I give this book three and a half stars.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend not to enjoy reading historical syntheses--works which lean largely on the interweaving of previously published secondary sources rather than the interpretation of primary sources--but this is an extremely impressive instance of the genre. It not only continues to work and offer useful guidance to its field (US foreign relations) quite awhile after it was published in 1982, but it really gives a comprehensive and satisfying overview of material that feels fresh even now. There have been many exciting and innovative developments in this field of study over the past ten to fifteen years, but they seem to have emerged from inside this book's scope, rather than to have expanded it.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used the first quarter of this book in a class, to help students understand US foreign policy in the late 19th/turn of the 20th century. It was good for that, basically explaining how "an increasingly activist government - a promotional state - accompanied and nurtured America's business abroad." I like that - "promotional state." That's good. This is helpful for understanding the USA in the age of empire, particularly in Latin America.
I haven't read the rest of the book, but maybe at some point. Not my field.

[Sania Sufi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dry, yet through historical analysis of American expansionism. Rosenberg claims one must understand the fluid, yet intertwined, nature of private and governmental institutions in order to understand US expansionism. The author also claims liberal-developmentalism, ideology which vitalized American mass consumption + technology, as the intellectual framework behind the expansionist project.

[Josh Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, filled with numbers and facts about how America worked to ensure its cultural hegemony in early and middle twentieth century, and to what ends. Goes well with the Tragedy of American Diplomacy (focused more on economic hegemony).

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a history course and found it really boring; I fell asleep twice while reading it despite the fact that it is quite short. I felt it dwelt much more on economic than cultural despite the title and from that stems much of my discontent.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose there's something to be said for clarity, but this is a textbook rather than a work of love. Made for guttting, not for appreciating.