This book is a sweeping synthesis of American politics up to the time is was written (around 1970). Ladd's framework divides American history into three more or less distinct periods, divided by the Civil War and the Depression. Each period has its own political agenda that grows out of the social situation, and the political parties develop around these changing agendas. I read the first part about the 'Rural Republic' and the second about 'crash industrialization', and they are both quite informative and well written. His analysis of the election of 1896 as the final victory of industrial society over agrarianism is perhaps the most daring interpretative assertion of the book (at least the parts I read), and it is an appealing point. However, he fails to mention that the election of 1900 had the same two candidates and essentially the same results, which creates some doubts with regards to how final this victory really was.

It is also possible to point out that he probably understates the autonomous powers of the parties and the political system to mold society and mass opinion. Furthermore, he shows little or no interest in groups not represented in or by the system, and his minimal discussion of culture and identity is mostly concerned with extremist movements. Against these objections it must be said that he presents a relatively simple and parsimonious model and is quite successful in explaining major developments. This is impressive and fairly rare in historical writing, and although this book is getting old, it is still a good introduction to the main trajectories of American political history.