Capture the Flag: A Political History of American Patriotism

Three times a year without fail when I was a kid - Labor Day, Independence Day, and Memorial Day - my dad would hang a large American flag from a portable wooden pole off of the wrought iron banister of our suburban front porch in a little town 1 hour north of New York City. He did so quietly and without fanfare, seemingly oblivious to the fact that we lived on a dead-end road that saw few cars pass by on any given day, let alone holidays. I mentioned this to him in passing when I was older, and he agreed with a nod, but continued to hang the flag until the day he died of cancer in the bedroom he lived in with my mom for almost thirty years. I never did get a direct answer out of him regarding his relationship to "Old Glory. My dad kept his cards close to his chest, and wasn't much of a "rah rah" guy about anything organizational, though he wore the courage of his convictions in a million different ways through living a life of quiet devotion to family, close friends, a professional career, and a spiritual walk that remained until the end. It is testament to Vermont-based historian Woden Teachout's new book Capture The Flag: A Political History of American Patriotism (Basic Books, 2009) that I begin with this story of my father and "Old Glory," for Teachout's wonderful new work is at once deeply personal and historically ambitious. A professor of graduate studies at Union Institute and University, Teachout seeks nothing less than to unpack the ways in which Americans' complex and evolving relationship to "Old Glory," the American flag, illuminates conflicting and deeply felt notions of patriotism itself. Using synechdoche - a time-honored historical technique in which a historian uses a small moment to represent larger historical trends (think Bernard DeVoto's 1846: Year of Decision, for example) - Teachout selects eight moments in U.S. history and deftly unpacks them to show the reader how Americans debated (sometimes violently) "Old Glory's" meaning within larger discussions about patriotism itself. Her skill as a narrative historian is first rate - while the book exudes a nice blend of scholarly authority (her work is based on doctoral research), she never sacrifices accessibility. At her best, Teachout is a fine storyteller, able to paint a convincing picture of life among the "rowdy boys" who inhabited the 18th century New England wharfs, the fall of Fort Sumter, or life inside the early 20th century Ku Klux Klan. Even more impressive, however, is her ability to graft these moments into larger historical debates about the meaning of patriotism in American life. Broadly speaking, Teachout identifies two kinds of patriotism in both the book's introduction and a helpful footnote: The first [kind of patriotism] is a sentiment that privileges commitment to ideas and values, usually humanitarian, to a commitment over nation; the second is a sentiment that seeks to promote one's nation politically, socially, or economically within the contex

Great summer non-fiction! A must read for anyone who considers themselves a patriotic American.

'Capture the Flag' narrates American history through a very compelling lens. This book educates and entertains as it inspires. I loved the stories that weave the themes together, and I came away feeling better, wiser, and prouder than ever about being an American.

I am a mother of three young children. I love to read but rarely have the time or inclination to read without falling asleep. I picked up Teachouts book because it looked interesting and I love to read books that have to do with our history and American Heritage. I was sure I would once again put myself to sleep. I was delighted when I was immediately engaged and found I could not put the book down. Thank you, Ms. Teachout, for encouraging and inspiring all of us Americans to keep looking into the past and learning about how we got here and what to do now. Everyone should read this book. It is a colorful,readable book that is easy to relate with, and not dry like most history books tend to be.

This is not the type of book that would normally catch my eye - a positive and lenghty Wall Street Journal review brought it to my attention - it did not let me down. An engaging journey, intellectually stimulating and even, at times, funny. Branch out and buy a copy, I did and feel rewarded by the opportunity.