In this book, Nancy Isenberg reveals that the wretched and landless poor have existed from the time of the earliest British colonial settlements to today's hillbillies. Poor whites were central to the rise of the Republican Party in the early nineteenth century and the Civil War itself was fought over class issues nearly as much as it was fought over slavery. Reconstruction pitted white trash against newly freed slaves, which factored in the rise...

The One Percent offers a close look at the wealthiest one percent of Americans and how they compare to the other 99 percent, examining how this group impacts the country's economy and society.

Class and Race examines how African Americans, Native Americans, and other groups have grappled with class structures in American society, studying the ways in which racism has shaped those structures and continues to do so today.

Class and Education looks closely at the relationships between education and class, covering topics like public and private schools and funding, the voucher system, the correlation between class and higher education, and what might be done to lessen the educational achievement gap between classes.

Being Poor in America examines the causes and factors that contribute to poverty. It discusses the experiences of being poor in urban and rural environments, and sheds light on homelessness and the role of education and health care in poverty.

Discusses the problems of the working class in light of "the central role [of racism] at every historical turning point in American history, from the founding of the Republic to the contemporary era."--Back cover.