Analysis Of Embattled Dreams By Kevin Starr

In Embattled Dreams, author Kevin Starr explains the decade that begins with World War II and ends with the growth of states that were part of the war, concentrating on the United States specifically California. The book speaks about the changes that the war brought into California and how it was a catalyst for major changes in the state’s economy and society. It focuses on the development of California. Many books show the major events that changed a country, but there were smaller stories within the country that demonstrated to the development as well. The author wants to show readers that California contributed much to the war cause, building machinery and such, but this book emphasizes the effects these jobs had on society. Kevin Starr

In every chapter, Starr begins with specific event from that year and he proceeds to connect it to the war and other matters regarding California. He always touches on the subject of the impact the war has on economic, political and social matters in California life. Also, the author wanted to show the economic, political, and social effects of the war. The chapters in Embattled Dreams is organized in this way: Kevin Starr begins with introducing the year the chapter is going to be about, he then proceeds to speak about facts about the war, for example the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor-which is the reason America formally enters the war- and how Japan has been connected to California before it was a factor in the war, “And besides: Pearl Harbor had struck the deepest possible chord in the collective psyche of California” (Embattled Dreams pg. 36). In other terms, he picks an event or theme in every chapter that relates to the thesis, the chapter is then wrapped around this theme or event. Kevin Starr’s thesis shows through every chapter by showing how supposable “new” developments have already been developing in California, but the war is the catalyst of it all. He makes the perfect combination in every chapter, intertwining every event together. In Embattled Dreams first chapter, Starr speaks about America’s very loud voice regarding its feelings about the war. He continues on by speaking about Roosevelt’s plan of making the United States an arsenal of democracy seeing as how he made a deal to supply the democratic countries involved in war with weapons. Each chapter touches base on Hollywood and its social perspective, politics and the political figures that emerge at a certain year, and economic impact the war has on