Seven Events That Made America America: And Proved That the Founding Fathers Were Right All Along [Hardcover]

Larry Schweikart (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 1, 2010

A conservative historian examines some of the pivotal, yet often ignored, moments that shaped our history

All students of American history know the big events that dramatically shaped our country. The Civil War, Pearl Harbor, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and 9/11 are just a few.

But there are other, less famous events that had an equally profound impact. Notable conservative historian Larry Schweikart takes an in- depth look at seven of these transformative moments and provides an analysis of how each of them spurred a trend that either confirmed or departed from the vision our Founding Fathers had for America. For instance, he shows how Martin Van Buren's creation of a national political party made it possible for Obama to get elected almost two centuries later and how Dwight Eisenhower's heart attack led to a war on red meat, during which the government took control over Americans' diets.

In his easy-to-read yet informative style, Schweikart will not only educate but also surprise readers into reevaluating our history.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Sentinel HC; First Edition edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595230645
• ISBN-13: 978-1595230645
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 1 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Some events spotlighted in this overwrought right-wing screed, like Martin Van Buren's redesign of political parties in the 1820s and the Dred Scott decision, were genuine historical watersheds. Others, like the Johnstown flood and President Eisenhower's 1955 heart attack, an alleged milestone in government dietary nannyism, maybe not. What unites them is the theme that historian Schweikart (48 Liberal Lies About American History) reliably extracts: the federal government is incompetent and corrupt, and the founders would have abhorred its modern initiatives, from arts funding to disaster relief to the food pyramid. Some of Schweikart's arguments, like his contention that Dred Scott precipitated the Panic of 1857, are intriguing and plausible, but his conclusions run to rabid anticollectivist sermonizing, e.g., throughout history, all inventions, all major decisions have come down to a single person. (Take that, Constitutional Convention!) His credibility is undermined by factual misstatements (In 2003... the world was already reaching its population peak), paranoid hyperbole (beneath the obesity hysteria was a deep hatred of capitalism), and obscure mutterings about 'the Lysenkoist 'man-made global warming' nonsense and the 'other shooters' sighted at President Kennedy's assassination. Schweikart's tea party serves up an iffy blend. (June 1)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“One of the greatest of the Founders, George Mason...urged on his countrymen the duty of frequent ‘recurrence to fundamental principles.’ I believe that is what Mr. Schweikart has in mind here: recurrence while there’s time. Based on the evidence he lays before us, we'd better not stand there, daydreaming.”
—The Washington Times

“Schweikart has a powerful understanding of what might otherwise be overlooked aspects of history, and makes them relevant to the modern reader.”
—Intellectual Conservative

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Sentinel HC; First Edition edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595230645
• ISBN-13: 978-1595230645
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 1 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,800 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Larry Schweikart, a former rock drummer who opened for "Steppenwolf," is a professor of history at the University of Dayton. In addition to some of the books mentioned here, he has authored over 50 academic articles, dozens of book reviews, and has been a regular guest on "Fox and Friends."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

188 of 223 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great History - No Spin, Not PC June 3, 2010

By David M. Dougherty VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Although one could argue with the author's choice of events in this volume, I found the selection very interesting if somewhat different than usual. After all, Dr. Schweikart does not contend these are the only events that shaped America, only that these should be considered important and worthy of examination.

The events are:
1. Martin van Buren's creation of the Democratic Party and the spoils system leading to big government,
2. Chief Justive Taney's Dred Scott decision leading to a panic and a civil war,
3. The Johnston Flood as an example of how private enterprise ALWAYS handles a crisis better than the Federal Government,
4. Ike's heart attack gives birth to the food and health police,
5. Rock music spells doom for communism (at least temporarily),
6. Reagan learns that sending in "peacekeepers" is a fatal exercise in futility (but forgotten by Clinton and Bush),
7. Obama's charismatic speeches thrill the country, but plaster over inexperience and a lack of leadership with words, and the leftist media bias becomes a propaganda machine that would put Goebbels to shame.

Each of the first six underscores American exceptionalism and provides a counterweight to the liberal/progressive spin taught daily in American schools and universities. Then the comparison is made with the seventh, and one comes to realize how out-of-control the Federal Government in the 21st century has truly become.

This is a valuable work, and the review by the liberal/progressive Publishers Weekly shows how upset liberal/progressives can become when their propaganda is exposed through good scholarship.... There is no "rabid anticollectivist sermonizing" (does the reviewer really have that much against pro-private enterprise writing), no "paranoid hyperbole" (my, my, such over-the-top hysterical writing), and no "obscure mutterings" (everything is right out there to read.) Conservatives will undoubtedly love this book, and socialists will probably hate it.

But there is something for everyone -- more than that, there is much to learn here. This is American history at its best. Each event is examined closely, the facts presented, and the lessons to be learned and applied by us today are clearly and concisely presented.

Absolutely recommended. Since this is a short book and extremely easy to read, it would also make a great present to high school kids who might want to expand their knowledge. Read more ›

68 of 86 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pithy, Insightful Book June 3, 2010

By Michael R. Allen

Format:Hardcover

I have known and worked with Larry Schweikart for over ten years. Once again I am impressed by his ability to cut to the chase by using micrcosm. The "7 Events" span several fields of American history, from the political (Jacksonian Demcocrats) to the socio-cultural (Rock and Roll music). They are connected in their reflection of essential American themes---democracy, individualism, anti-authoritarianism, and creativity, all of which spring from freedom. Schweikart has written much longer monographs and documented narratives. The expertise he gained from writing these books enables him to serve up seven pithy and fascinating (hi)stories. 'Seven Events That Shaped America' will make a nice addition to to the bookshelves of anyone seeking to expand their knowledge of the American past.

Mike Allen

33 of 42 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A different take on US History June 14, 2010

By D. W. MacKenzie

Format:Kindle Edition

Seven Events asserts the importance of some relatively unknown events in US history. Who ever heard that Martin Van Buren took American politics towards partisanship and away from ideology? The Johnston Flood has not had a prominent place in history either. Who knew that Eisenhower's health had policy implications (this one might be a stretch...)?

Seven Evens also reinterprets some well known events, like Dread Scott and the rise of modern music- but who ever thought that these events might have had major economic consequences?

I am not sure of all of the connections made by Schweikart will hold up to future scrutiny. But there is plausibility behind his claim that single individuals play crucial roles that change history. Furthermore, this book does make you think about our history, and that is its main value. We should not just accept any established interpretation of history.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Events usually have unanticipated consequences. Terrific read! July 14, 2010

By Craig Matteson HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

The title is not claiming that these are the most important events in American history. But they are each very interesting because of the unforeseen ways history unfolded after they occurred. One of the requirements of being a compelling historian is getting the facts right, explaining them with compelling analysis, and telling the story with the page turning urgency of great story telling. Schweikart achieves all three in this fine book.

What are the 7 events?

1) How Martin Van Buren created the party system in order to win power by protecting slavery in the South and winning power in the North and West by not BEING from the South, but having "Southern Values". Along with this came patronage and the cynical notion of buying votes with government largesse. Sound familiar? Yep.

2) The Supreme Court decision against the slave Dred Scott's emancipation was so bad that caused violence and bloodshed in the west, gave energy to the rise of the new abolitionist Republican Part, and increased the likelihood of war between the North and the South.

3) How people in America responded to the tragedy of the flood following a dam failure in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Notice that it was the private sector response that fixed things quickly and ably. Compare that to the helpless dependence on the Feds for Katrina.

4) President Eisenhower had a heart attack during his second term in office which led to his program of "healthy living", which spread out into society and into government policy. Never mind that much of the advice has been dead wrong and overturned by later evidence. Never mind that there is no Constitutional power for a Nanny State to decide what Americans should or must eat and not eat.... Just look at Bloomberg in New York City and listen to any recent speech by Michelle Obama and you know that Nanny State is not only getting stronger, it is moving from being a nag to enforcing with the power of law. Bad news for freedom and personal responsibility, folks.

5) I love Schweikart's tour of how rock and roll undermined the power of the Soviet Empire and its totalitarian control over people's lives. Well, it was Rock and Roll and fax machines, too. But this is about Rock and Roll, so let's party and have some fun.

6) Ronald Regan was a great president, but he made some serious mistakes. And the one that we are still paying for is his pull out of Lebanon after more than a hundred Marines were killed by a truck bomb. You can debate whether we should have been there or how the marines should have been better deployed, but the reality is that by pulling out, in the eyes of the Muslim fundamentalists that became Al Queda and similar organizations, we shamed ourselves. We made ourselves look week and emboldened them. You want to talk about recruiting terrorists that move and Bill Clinton's running from Somalia encouraged the delusions of Jihadists and Islamic Terrorists everywhere that they could conquer the West and destroy a weak and collapsing America.

7) The national and political media has leaned left for decades, but they gave up all pretense of objectivity in rooting for Barack Obama. Even while Obama's policies are unpopular and his poll numbers are sinking, he can count on the national media to still package stories as positively as they can. This means Obama can also bully them and ignore them and they still bend to him. We will see how this plays out in the next couple of elections and what its meaning is for other candidates in the future.

A fascinating book. Whether you want to debate the author or quibble over a detail or interpretation, that is part of the fun of history not a weakness. Enjoy!

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Saline, MI Read more ›