North Carolina Office of Archives and History

American Epoch by Arthur S. LinkReview by: Hubert A. ColemanThe North Carolina Historical Review, Vol. 33, No. 1 (January, 1956), pp. 116-117Published by: North Carolina Office of Archives and HistoryStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23516403 .

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116 The North Carolina Historical Review

haps instituted vote-getting tactics that were devastating to

Polk; he was a most intriguing figure in the eyes of Tennes

seans and others; he abundantly deserves a full-length bio

graphy. Weymouth T. Jordan.

Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.

Weymouth T. Jordan.

American Epoch. By Arthur S. Link. (New York: Alfred A.

Knopf. 1955. Pp. xx, 724. $6.00.)

American Epoch is a survey of the history of the United States since 1890. It is a challenging interpretation of the cultural, social, political, and economic history of this period, organized and written in a way that makes good reading. Mr. Link is perhaps too modest about his work when he says in the preface: "I have said very little that is new. Indeed, I will be satisfied if I have succeeded in assembling, assimi

lating, and organizing the excellent sources and literature of this period." The author has evaluated these sources and

reached conclusions even on the most controversial issues.

This adds zest to the book. In general, however, the author's

interpretations and conclusions will be more palatable to liberals than to conservatives. The progressive movement and social justice get considerable attention.

A few examples of interpretation will show the author's

point of view: on the credit side of the Great Depression and the later policies of Hoover was a transition to "a larger measure of federal leadership" (p. 373); while the New Deal is seen as "the enactment of a program that marked the full

flowering of the humanitarian-progressive movement . . ."

(p. 403); the "TVA might well prove to be the New Deal's most important contribution . . ." (p. 432); if the United States had provided leadership from 1936 to 1939 war might have been prevented (p. 466); as to the Yalta agreements, "Roosevelt and Churchill . . . acted in the only manner that was historically possible" (p. 564). The American economy at the end of the Democratic era "was neither capitalistic nor

socialistic, competitive nor monopolistic, business controlled

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Book Reviews 117

nor laboristic. It was a mixed' economy, a combination of

many elements . . . each appealing to the political power"

(p. 602). Moreover, people of both parties like this "mixed"

economy and look to the government to make it work (p. 602). As to agriculture, the Brannan Plan is "farsighted and

probably the best solution to the farm problem . . ." (p. 641). Truman gets approval for a "farsighted foreign policy" (p. 626 ) and his "most significant contribution ... in extending the horizons and enlarging the goals of the American progres sive movement" (p. 627).

This book provides a means to a better understanding of American civilization since 1890.

Hubert A. Coleman. East Carolina College, Greenville.

Hubert A. Coleman.

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