Poverty in America

Christina G. Villegas, PhD, is Associate Professor of Political Science at California State University, San Bernardino, USA.

Preface
1. Background and History
Introduction
Land of Promise
Poverty and Poor Relief in Early America
The Market Revolution
The Rise and Fall of Slavery
Industrialization and Urbanization
The Progressive Era and the 1920s
The Great Depression and the New Deal
The Great Society and the War on Poverty
Welfare Reform and Compassionate Conservativism
The Era of Neoliberalism
The Financial Crisis and the Great Recession
The Rise of New Socialism and Populism
COVID-19, The Great Resignation, and the Continued Growth of Economic Inequality
Socioeconomic Contexts and Geographic Disparities
Conclusion
References

2. Problems, Controversies, and Solutions
Introduction

Problems and Controversies

Defining Poverty
Debating the War on Poverty
Economic Inequality
Race and Poverty
Gender and Poverty
Globalization and Financialization
Trade and Immigration
Rising Housing Costs and Shortages
Wage Stagnation and the Gig Economy
Inflation
Energy Policy
Higher Education Costs and Over Credentialization
Workforce Disconnection
Social Alienation and Addiction
Homelessness

Solutions

Family Support and Affordability
Universal Basic Income
Taxes and Subsidies
Improving Real Wages
Combatting Inflation
Rebuilding Social Capital and Supportive Communities
Reforming Secondary and Higher Education
Conclusion

References

3. Perspectives
Introduction

“Child Neglect and Child Poverty – Connections and Distinctions” - Sarah A. Font
“Military Veterans and Poverty” - Rebecca Burgess
“Reforming the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit” - Roger Valdez
“The Value of Work and Its Implications for Poverty” - Oren Cass
“Title 1 Funds and Low-Income Student Test Scores” - Vicki Alger

4. Profiles
Introduction
Individuals
Government Agencies and Programs
Non-Profit Organizations and Programs

5. Data and Documents
Introduction
Data
Documents
Thomas Jefferson, A Bill for the Support of the Poor (1789)
FDR’s Message to Congress on the State of the Union Outlining an Economic Bill of Rights (1944)
Lyndon B. Johnson, Special Message to Congress Declaring a War on the Sources of Poverty (1964)
Selections from the Economic Opportunity Act (1964)
Ronald Reagan, Radio Address to the Nation on Welfare Reform (1986)
Selections from the Personal Responsibility & Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (1996)
What We Do Together: The State of Social Capital in America Today, Selections from the Hearing Before the Joint Economic Committee (2017)
Economic Mobility: Is the American Dream in Crisis, Selections from the Hearing before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy (2019)
The Income and Wealth Inequality Crisis in America, Selections from Hearing before the Senate Committee on the Budget (2021)
Bernie Sanders’s State of the Working Class Speech (2023)

6. Resources
Books
Articles and Reports
Non-Print Sources

7. Chronology
Glossary
Index
About the Author