Never One Nation

Focusing on the construction of American identity during the Civil War era, the book examines how local narratives shaped perceptions of race, class, and sexuality. Through analysis of periodicals and cultural artifacts, it reveals the conflation of Americanness with whiteness, influenced by events like the Draft Riots and the Dakota uprising. Frost highlights how regional publications, often overlooked, contributed to a fragmented understanding of national identity amidst social upheavals, challenging traditional discourses on racial formation and community.