Imperial Cityscapes

Urban History and Empire in the United States

The intrigue cities hold for us as Historians and Americanists seems a natural extension of our curiosity about culture, civilizations, politics, economics and power. It is at the level of cities—these modern crossroads of trade, ideas and materials—that the modern intellectual finds, in everyday stories, some of the most influential connections between institutions, cultures, and political and aesthetic movements. American history simply cannot be told without constant reference to its cities. It is the wish of the editors that this forum and the questions raised throughout this introduc-tion will generate a more vigorous discussion that will introduce the tricky yet indispensable themes of imperialism, empire, and transnationalism to U.S. urban historiography, and prompt reflection on how cities feature in the study of America more generally.

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A review of That Infernal Little Cuban Republic: The United States and the Cuban Revolution by Lars Schoultz

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‘All This Is Occasioned By Our Attachment to You:’

The Demise of the Iroquois Confederacy

The Iroquois Confederacy was torn apart by intertribal violence for the first time in its history during the United States’ War of Independence. This paper is an exploration of the external forces that precipitated the brutal and bloody fracture. It describes the social and geographic setting of the period in detail and proceeds to show how various individuals from both sides acted within this setting to manipulate the Iroquois to their advantage. It is a history that is notable for its strong personalities, including an exceptionally influential Iroquois woman, a politically motivated reverend, and a racist military general desperate to win the loyalty of the ‘savages.’ Ultimately, the British were more competent and more resourceful, while the Americans – especially after a heavy-handed and disastrous campaign to force the remaining neutral tribes to join their ranks – lost most of their Iroquois allies by the time the war ended.

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Adolescence, Literature and Censorship:

Unpacking the Controversy Surrounding Judy Blume

While discussing the history of “book banning” and more recent debates on the idea of censorship, the author argues that Judy Blume’s work stands as a point of familiarity, comfort and understanding amongst adolescents. The paper finds its primary focus in Blume’s exploration of the idea of sexual normativity and acceptance amongst peers, but also speaks to broader issues that Blume explores in her texts – diseases, abnormalities, parental association and peer-pressure. Overall, the author asks that both readers and critics re-examine the social, environmental and literary value of Blume’s work within, what the author argues, is an unaccepting, often sceptical social milieu. Blume’s work has been pivotal as a tool for social affirmation and growth among adolescents by citing letters, opinions and critiques who responses reaffirm their love for Blume’s work.

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