Vagrant Nation: Police Power, Constitutional Change, and the Making of the 1960s

Name: Vagrant Nation: Police Power, Constitutional Change, and the Making of the 1960s
Price: 26.01 USD
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Rating: 4.6 (15 reviews)

4.6 of 5 Stars: Legal History - Vagrant Nation: Police Power, Constitutional Change, and the Making of the 1960s

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Book Synopsis: In 1950s America, it was remarkably easy for police to arrest almost anyone for almost any reason. The criminal justice system-and especially the age-old law of vagrancy-played a key role not only in maintaining safety and order but also in enforcing conventional standards of morality and propriety. A person could be arrested for sporting a beard, making a speech, or working too little. Yet by the end of the 1960s, vagrancy laws were discredited and American society was fundamentally transformed. What happened? In Vagrant Nation, Risa Goluboff provides a groundbreaking account of this transformation. By reading into the history of the 1960s through the lens of vagrancy laws, Goluboff shows how constitutional challenges to long-standing police practices were at the center of the multiple movements that made “the 1960s.” Vagrancy laws were so broad and flexible that they made it possible for the police to arrest anyone out of place in any way: Beats and hippies; Communists andVietnam War protestors; racial minorities, civil rights activists, and interracial couples; prostitutes, single women, and gay men, lesbians, and other sexual minorities. As hundreds of these “vagrants” and their lawyers claimed that vagrancy laws were unconstitutional, the laws became a flashpoint for debates about radically different visions of order and freedom. In Goluboff’s compelling portrayal, the legal campaign against vagrancy laws becomes a sweeping legal and social history of the 1960s. Touching on movements advocating civil rights, peace, gay rights, welfare rights, and cultural revolution, Vagrant Nation provides insight relevant to this battle, as well as the battle over the legacy of the 1960s’ transformations themselves.

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Discover the untold story of the 1960s and how the fight against archaic vagrancy laws led to a fundamental transformation of American society. In "Vagrant Nation: Police Power, Constitutional Change, and the Making of the 1960s," acclaimed author Risa Goluboff delves into the captivating history behind the legal challenges that shaped the various movements that defined this remarkable era.

Unleash the power of constitutional change as Goluboff reveals how vagrancy laws played a pivotal role in the arrests of countless individuals for non-conformity, be it their appearance, beliefs, or social standing. From the Beats to hippies, civil rights activists to Vietnam War protestors, Goluboff uncovers the astonishing breadth and flexibility of these laws, which became a tool for oppressive policing and a symbol of societal control.

However, the tide turned in the 1960s as brave vagrants and their determined lawyers stepped forward to challenge the constitutionality of these unjust laws. Witness the clash of ideologies as debates on order and freedom reverberated across the nation. Through Goluboff's expert analysis, the legal campaign against vagrancy laws becomes an enthralling legal and social history, providing invaluable insights into the movements advocating civil rights, peace, gay rights, welfare rights, and cultural revolution.

Experience the transformative power of Vagrant Nation and unravel the intricate connections between this landmark battle and the enduring legacy of the 1960s' tumultuous transformations. Dive deep into the pages of this groundbreaking book and uncover the secrets behind the making of an iconic decade. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of history!

Fuel your curiosity and explore the enthralling world of "Vagrant Nation: Police Power, Constitutional Change, and the Making of the 1960s" today! Get your copy now!

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