Since the advent of the American toy industry, children’s cultural
products have attempted to teach and sell ideas of American identity. By
examining cultural products geared towards teaching children American
history, Playing With History highlights the changes and
constancies in depictions of the American story and ideals of
citizenship over the last one hundred years. This book examines
political and ideological messages sold to children throughout the
twentieth century, tracing the messages conveyed by racist toy banks,
early governmental interventions meant to protect the toy industry,
influences and pressures surrounding Cold War stories of the western
frontier, the fractures visible in the American story at a mid-century
history themed amusement park. The study culminates in a look at the
successes and limitations of the American Girl Company empire.
