Routledge Federalism and the Making of America

Though Americans rarely appreciate it, federalism has profoundly shaped their nation’s past, present, and future. Federalism―the division of government authority between the national government and the states―affects the prosperity, security, and daily life of every American. Some of the most spectacular political conflicts in American history have been fought on the battlefield of federalism, including states’ rights to leave the union, government power to regulate business, and responses to the problems of race, poverty, pollution, abortion, and gay rights. In the second edition of this nuanced and comprehensive text, David Brian Robertson shows that past choices shape present circumstances, and that a deep understanding of American government, public policy, political processes, and society requires an understanding of the key steps in federalism’s evolution in American history. New to the Second Edition Emphasizes that federalism is a battleground that shapes every life inAmerica. Extensively revised and updated, including new coverage of recent controversies like Ferguson, immigration, climate change, Obamacare, gay rights, the minimum wage, political polarization, voter identification, fracking, and marijuana legalization. Brings together the newest developments in history, political science, law,and related disciplines to show how federalism influences government and politics today. Includes chapter-opening vignettes that deal with contemporary cases and policy challenges.     Review Praise for the Second Edition American federalism – the ongoing clash and cooperation between semi-sovereign states and the federal government – is recognized as profoundly important and consequential by everyone. Everyone, that is, except American political analysts, who have generally relegated it to a dusty corner of discussion. In this new edition of Federalism and the Making of America, David Brian Robertson blows off the cobwebs and helps us understand just how fundamental federalism is to our history , our democracy, and our daily lives. Along the way, he brilliantly shows why our federal system is at once so revered and so controversial: an engine of repression and inequality on the one hand, and an engine of representation and experimentation on the other. This is the book to read if you want to understand what makes our multi-layered political system tick. Jacob S. Hacker, Yale University Federalism has always been central to the workings of American government, but it takes on new dynamism in our era of extreme partisan polarization. During the Obama presidency, the federal division of powers offered conservative states opportunities to resist liberal national initiatives; now the script is flipped, with liberal states pursuing alternative paths in a time of Trump-GOP dominance. This new edition of David Brian Robertson’s incisive and comprehensive overview of U.S. federalism, therefore, could hardly be more timely. It is a clear, engaging account of how federalism influences what the U.S. does – and fails to do – about legal and social policy challenges of all stripes. Theda Skocpol, Harvard University; Scholars Strategy Network This new edition of David Brian Robertson’s text skillfully recounts important policy battles fought, in the arena of American federalism, on issues ranging from race to climate change to economic innovation. Combining scholarly insights and salient examples, Robertson reveals that neither U.S. history nor American politics can be properly understood without federalism playing a central role. Craig Volden, University of Virginia No one can truly understand American government and politics without coming to grips with our particular version of federalism. David Brian Robertson offers the most trenchant treatment of the subject anywhere: He illuminates how federalism has structured the battleground for politics from the nation’s founding to the present, with c