50 American Revolutions You're Not Supposed to Know : Reclaiming American Patriotism

Since when was it unpatriotic to dissent? Why is it “un-American” to question our government's policies? And how did the Far Right manage to claim the flag exclusively for itself?A book that the country desperately needs, 50 American Revolutions is a concise, quick guide to the people and events in our country's history that progressives and anyone not impressed by the radical Right's warped version of patriotism can be proud of. Author Mickey Z begins with Thomas Paine's revolutionary manifesto Common Sense, written anonymously as a pamphlet in January 1776 and read by every member of Congress, and goes on to highlight the most notable people and events in the history of the United States, right through to the families of 9/11 victims in the group Peaceful Tomorrows questioning the connection between the events of that day and the United States'subsequent acts of aggression in Iraq.In addition to concise essays on everything and everyone from the Bill of Rights to disability rights, Coxey's Army to Public Enemy, Mickey also highlights important milestones along the timeline of the book, making for a complete picture of US history, good with bad.As with Russ Kick's ultra-popular 50 Things You're Not Supposed To Know, 50 American Revolutions is perfectly sized for handbags and coat pockets (it's the same size as a CD), it's a tremendous gift for anyone whose idea of patriotism needs some revision. Cover 1 Title Page 5 Copyright Page 6 Dedication Page 8 Table of Contents 10 Introduction: "Patriot Acts" 14 01. Thomas Paine Adds Fuel to the Revolutionary Fire 18 02. The Bill of Rights 20 03. Shays Rebellion 23 04. Nat Turner puts the South on Notice 25 05. The Seminole-African Alliance 27 06. Lowell Mill Girls get organized 30 07. St. Patrick's Battalion 32 08. Thoreau Lays the Foundation for King and Gandhi 35 09. Uncle Tom's Cabin Moves America toward Abolition 37 10. Lizzie Jennings gets on the Bus 39 11. Coxey's Army Marches to Washington 42 12. Ida M. Tarbell and other "Muckrakers" 44 13. Emma Goldman Spreads Anarchy in the U.S.A. 46 14. Jack Johnson Wins the Heavyweight Crown 48 15. Helen Keller Opposes U.S. Involvement in World War I 52 16. Eugene Debs Runs for President from Prison Cell 55 17. Katherine Hepburn Wears Pants 57 18. The Bonus Army Demands Justice 59 19. Billie Holiday Sings "Strange Fruit" 62 20. The Forgotten Verses of "This Land is your Land" 65 21. Dorothea Lange Photographs Japanese-American Internment Camps 67 22. Charlie Parker Finds the Pretty Notes 69 23. Branda's Undershirt 71 24. Lester Rodney Helps Break Baseball's Color Line 73 25. Jackson Pollock Drips his Way onto the Cover of Life 76 26. Salt of the Earth is Filmed 78 27. I. F. Stone goes Weekly 81 28. Lolita Lebrón and others Attack Congress 83 29. Rachel Carson Inspires the Modern Environmental Movement 85 30. Betty Friedan Asks: "Is that all?" 87 31. Ralph Nader Writes Unsafe at any Speed 89 32. Naked Lunch is Declared "Not Obscene" 92 33. Lenny Bruce Dies for Our Sins 94 34. Muhammad Ali Says "No" to Military Draft 97 35. Cesar Chavez, UFW, and the Grape Boycott 100 36. Hugh Thompson gets in the Line of Fire 103 37. American Indians Occupy Alcatraz Island 106 38. Tommie Smith and John Carlos Raise their Fists 108 39. Stonewall 112 40. Angela's Afro 114 41. Curt Flood Challenges Baseball's Reserve Clause 117 42. Daniel Ellsberg Leaks the Pentagon Papers 119 43. Charles Bukowski Quits his Job at the Post Office 123 44. Patti Smith Uses Rock and Roll Like a Weapon 125 45. Keith McHenry Forms Food not Bombs 128 46. John Robbins Makes all the Connections 131 47. Public Enemy Fights the Power 133 48. The Disability Rights Movement Says: "Piss on Pity" 135 49. The Battle in Seattle 138 50. Families of 9/11 Victims Say "no" to Revenge 141 References 146 About the Author 156 Acknowledgements 157 Notes 160 Back Cover 164