Van Gosse

9 articles

Van Gosse is a Professor of History at Franklin & Marshall. After writing about the New Left “movement of movements” for some years, in 2021 he published The First Reconstruction: Black Politics in America, From the Revolution to the Civil War. He has been active in peace and solidarity work since the 1980s (CISPES, Peace Action, United for Peace and Justice) and helped found Historians Against the War, now H-PAD, in 2003.

Contributions from Van Gosse

Announcement for livestream teach-in. Lots of text with head shots of four people in the middle: Carol Anderson, Nancy MacLean, Paul Ortiz and Bill Fletcher Jr.

Historians Organize Teach-in On MAGA: Roots and Dangers

Van Gosse

Members of Historians for Peace and Democracy “have been thinking through what it will take to mobilize young people at a time of widespread disillusionment with conventional politics.” They have enlisted a panel of distinguished scholars to deepen the understanding that can lead to action.

Workers at a rally, mostly women, many Black, many wearing hospital scrubs.

Who Is Working-Class, and Why It Matters

Van Gosse

Throughout U.S. history, class has been bound up with other forms of oppression—so the disenfranchisement of Black men after Reconstruction decisively shifted class relations.

Black-and-white photo. An African American man in a white shirt, suit and tie is seated at a table reading. Several white people stand over him as he does, mostly men, some in sunglasses, expressions ranging from hostile to indifferent. A file cabinet behind the reader to the left has a hand-written sign, “Freedom Registration File 2”; a sign taped to a lectern identifies the credentials committee.

‘The White Republic’: Response by Van Gosse

Van Gosse

The white republic has not been a monolith, historian Van Gosse suggests.

Photograph that shows an american flag with a donkey figurine and an elephant figurine

Strategy

US Politics: A Brief Guide for Organizers

Van Gosse

Organizers are building the power to win elections. But what is the terrain we're fighting on? A look at the US electoral system, political parties, and more.

Three photographs: far left, a white man in a dark suit and dark tie, middle: white man n=in dark suit; right: older man with gray beard wearing a white jacket

An “Illiberal Democracy” if Trump Wins Again

Van Gosse

The 'democracy' everyday people have won through struggle is now on the line.

4 women sitting at a table facing the camera and smiling

Strategy

Where do we go from here?

Van Gosse

Van Gosse outlines 3 historical lessons for engaging the Democratic Party today in the final installment of his primer on US political parties for organizers.

Top left: Andrew Jackson; Bottom left: Thomas Jefferson; Top right: Bill Clinton; Bottom right: Barack Obama

Democracy

Coalitions of Convenience, Periods of Polarization

Van Gosse

An look at the history of the Democratic Party -- and the Left -- in three periods from Jackson and Jefferson to Clinton and Obama.

Democracy

The Mechanics of Power

Van Gosse

In this first of three articles on U.S. political parties for organizers, historian Van Gosse looks at what makes the U.S. party system unique.

Image left: John Mercer Langston; Image right: Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez

Democracy

Are we the new Radical Republicans?

Van Gosse

In the wake of the Whig Party's disintegration, the Radical Republicans became the one truly revolutionary party this country has ever had. Can we build the next one?

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Van Gosse

Contributions from Van Gosse

Historians Organize Teach-in On MAGA: Roots and Dangers

Who Is Working-Class, and Why It Matters

‘The White Republic’: Response by Van Gosse

US Politics: A Brief Guide for Organizers

An “Illiberal Democracy” if Trump Wins Again

Where do we go from here?

Coalitions of Convenience, Periods of Polarization

The Mechanics of Power

Are we the new Radical Republicans?

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Contributions from Van Gosse