Philadelphia Divided

“Wolfinger persuasively argues that scholars should be thinking more nationally about the origins of modern conservatism. He demonstrates that the roots of the late-twentieth-century Republican white cross-class alliance are found as much in the urban North of the 1940s and '50s as in the South and West. Well written and clearly presented, Philadelphia Divided also makes valuable connections to contemporary concerns.” — Roger D. Simon, Lehigh University

“Wolfinger makes an important contribution to the history of liberalism and conservatism in this fine book. Through a case study of Philadelphia politics in the supposed heyday of the New Deal coalition, Wolfinger shows that the roots of the New Right in the urban North are deep and tangled. His argument is sure to generate fruitful discussion and debate.” — Thomas J. Sugrue, University of Pennsylvania

“Philadelphia Divided is an impressive piece of historical work. It joins an important historiographic trend that sees the unraveling of New Deal liberalism in struggles over race among northern New Deal supporters during the 1940s and 1950s. Wolfinger identifies racial tensions within the New Deal coalition even earlier — the late 1930s — and shows how the Republicans actively encouraged and benefited from racial tension way before the southern strategies of Goldwater and Nixon.” — Joshua B. Freeman, Queens College and The Graduate Center, The City University of New York

“[An] engrossing social history of early 20th-century Philadelphia politics. . . . A tremendous contribution to our knowledge of how racism shaped politics in the urban North.” — Journal of African American History

“Recommended.” — CHOICE

“[A] thorough exploration of the topic. . . . Deftly shows how the racist fear-mongering politics of the 1930s-50s has shaped our current political system.” — Colorlines

“An in-depth analysis of the lives and politics of Philadelphia’s various racial and ethnic groups between the 1930s and 1950s. . . . Wolfinger’s book deserves to be praised.” — Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography

“Achieves notable success with its exploration of the intersections of race and ideology and its linkage of urban political and social history. . . . A major addition not just to the rapidly growing historiography of twentieth-century Philadelphia, but to the fields of social, political, and urban history more generally.” — Journal of Social History

“Wolfinger’s book is a significant addition to the burgeoning literature on race, politics, and metropolitanization in the United States following World War II. . . . [A] richly informative and finely detailed account.” — American Historical Review