The Modern American Right in United States History Standards

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Abstract

Political culture in the United States is increasingly defined by the divide between left and right, but little has been written on how history classrooms prepare students to understand that division by teaching the history of the modern Right. Using Critical Discourse Analysis and the framework of difficult history, this study analyzes 25 state standards’ coverage of rightwing figures and groups since the end of World War II. Findings show that few states mandate substantive coverage, and the history of rightwing social movements is almost entirely occluded. Comparing this lack of coverage with the more robust description of leftwing movements, this paper discusses how this imbalance may undermine democratic participation and uphold conservative narrative templates.

Author

• Lightning Jay, Binghamton University - SUNY