We The People Textbook Analysis

The two assigned textbooks, We the People and American Politics and the African-American Quest for Universal Freedom (AAA), are very different in content and concept. The We the People textbook had more of “universal”, less biased, view of American government as opposed to AAA. The We the People book wrote mainly about government and politics without zeroing in on racial groups and their disadvantages. The AAA book also focused on government, but specifically on African-American influence throughout the course of American history, how it continues today and the disadvantages that have risen from American government. For example, the AAA textbook talks about the advantages of federalism as a whole country and the disadvantages it puts on minorities, especially blacks.

Writers Walton and Smith explain, “federalism is an impediment to universal freedom because it allows the different states to define rights and freedoms for their citizens” which “has allowed a minority of southern whites to limit the freedom of African Americans” (29). In comparison, the We the People textbook focused on how federalism shapes American politics and how different types of federalism adapted over time; there is not a specific focus on how it has affected minority groups. Having two different perspectives is extremely important because we are able to get a glimpse at the issues of our country and how they have and continue to affect minority groups. With just the assigned We the People textbook, the class may not have learned an unearthed side of American politics that AAA speaks out about. As Americans, we need more awareness of these issues in order to maintain a better-flowing government and population with equal civil rights for everyone regardless of our differences.