In the book, “American Citizenship: the Quest for Inclusion,” by Judith N. Shklar, Shklar places emphasis on the fact that America was founded upon the principles of freedom and equality, yet excluded various groups of people based on economic status, gender, race and religion, and many people were enslaved. Shklar recounts the circumstances these people endured in order to gain citizenship, economic independence and ultimately the right to vote.
Born to Jewish parents in Latvia, Shklar immigrated to the US when she was 13. She went on to attend McGill University and Harvard University and later became a professor and political theorist. Shklar provides a unique perspective on citizenship because she, like many other Americans, faced challenges …show more content…
In my past history classes, I learned the dates of events, where the events took place, and who partook in the event, but I did not learn the reasoning behind why the event took place. This book gave the views of citizens and non-citizens on who should be eligible for citizenship and who should not, and the reasoning behind their beliefs. One thing in particular that stood out to me was that Shklar included minority groups that were excluded other than African Americans. This is something that other books on this same topic typically fail to do. My thoughts were provoked and I questioned whether or not I agreed with the views of Shklar. I also questioned what my personal beliefs were on the topic of American Citizenship. It’s interesting to me that American citizenship is a topic that has been controversial since the beginning of America’s history and remains controversial today. Many other topics that were important then are no longer discussed now. Shklar not only provides information from a historical standpoint, but a social and economic standpoint as well. Other books that I have read on this topic, mainly textbooks, only provide information from a historical standpoint.
Though this book was impressive, and not a lengthy read, there are still a few improvements to be made. There is so much more to American Citizenship than just the right to vote and the right to earn one’s own wages. Shklar failed to include the views of the modern-day American and how most of them perceive citizenship and how minority groups are viewed
Born to Jewish parents in Latvia, Shklar immigrated to the US when she was 13. She went on to attend McGill University and Harvard University and later became a professor and political theorist. Shklar provides a unique perspective on citizenship because she, like many other Americans, faced challenges …show more content…
In my past history classes, I learned the dates of events, where the events took place, and who partook in the event, but I did not learn the reasoning behind why the event took place. This book gave the views of citizens and non-citizens on who should be eligible for citizenship and who should not, and the reasoning behind their beliefs. One thing in particular that stood out to me was that Shklar included minority groups that were excluded other than African Americans. This is something that other books on this same topic typically fail to do. My thoughts were provoked and I questioned whether or not I agreed with the views of Shklar. I also questioned what my personal beliefs were on the topic of American Citizenship. It’s interesting to me that American citizenship is a topic that has been controversial since the beginning of America’s history and remains controversial today. Many other topics that were important then are no longer discussed now. Shklar not only provides information from a historical standpoint, but a social and economic standpoint as well. Other books that I have read on this topic, mainly textbooks, only provide information from a historical standpoint.
Though this book was impressive, and not a lengthy read, there are still a few improvements to be made. There is so much more to American Citizenship than just the right to vote and the right to earn one’s own wages. Shklar failed to include the views of the modern-day American and how most of them perceive citizenship and how minority groups are viewed