Describes a time of upheaval in America--when the country was in a deep economic depression, white supremacists roamed the South, and a nationwide railroad strike led to bloodshed--and discusses how the events of 1877 also fueled cultural and intellectual innovation.

"Something is wrong. We all know it. American life expectancy is declining for a third straight year. Birth rates are dropping. Nearly half of us think the other political party isn't just wrong; they're evil. We're the richest country in history, but we've never been more pessimistic. What's causing the despair? In Them, bestselling author and U.S. senator Ben Sasse argues that, contrary to conventional wisdom, our crisis isn't really about politics....