America First Patriotic Readings

America First Patriotic Readings by Jasper Leonidas McBrien is a stirring compilation that captures early 20th-century debates about national loyalty, civic duty, and the education of American youth. Grounded in the aftermath of President Woodrow Wilson’s 1915 appeal to the Daughters of the American Revolution, McBrien—former Nebraska State Superintendent and School Extension Specialist for the U.S. Bureau of Education—curates speeches, essays, and readings intended to make "America First" a guiding principle for schools and communities. This history collection reflects wartime anxieties and the drive to forge a unified national identity amid waves of immigration and the confusion of the European war. McBrien argues for deliberate civic education and offers material designed to teach patriotism without propaganda, emphasizing moral citizenship, national unity, and practical classroom use. The text illuminates how educators and policymakers sought to blend loyalty, assimilation, and democratic ideals during a pivotal era. Ideal for students of American history, educators, and listeners curious about World War I–era civic thought, this audiobook provides historical context for contemporary discussions about patriotism and public education. Listen to understand the origins of modern civic instruction and the cultural currents that shaped early 20th-century America.