Father Charles Coughlin A Radio Celebrity's Construction of the American People along Class, Racial, and Religious Lines
Date of Award
2006
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Johnson, Robert
Keywords
Coughlin, Charles, Identity, Great Depression
Area of Concentration
History
Abstract
This thesis seeks to answer a couple of essential questions about the popular yet enigmatic Father Charles Edward Coughlin, a politically active Catholic priest and radio celebrity during the Great Depression. First is the matter of situating Coughlin politically, accepting his defiance of classification within standard categories. Second is the issue of understanding the racial, class, and religious boundaries of the American identity Coughlin helped to craft during this period. Addressing the agricultural and industrial laborers of the Midwest and Northeast, Coughlin formulated a white, Christian, populist, working-class construction of the American identity that notably excluded Jews and financial elites. Although his efforts ultimately failed, Coughlin represents both a path not taken by the United States and a popular sentiment that partially influenced the direction that was taken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This thesis explores the dynamics of this particular response to the Great Depression and its significance to the development of a particular variation of American identity. Coughlin�s published speeches located in the University of Notre Dame Archives in South Bend, Indiana formed the core of the author�s primary source evidence. Newspaper archives and secondary sources provided other necessary background information.
Recommended Citation
Fusiek, Agnes, "Father Charles Coughlin A Radio Celebrity's Construction of the American People along Class, Racial, and Religious Lines" (2006). Theses & ETDs. 3643.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3643
Rights
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.