The Politicians and the Egalitarians: The Hidden History of American Politics

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By Sean Wilentz

Published Sept. 2, 2016

In his new book, American history professor Sean Wilentz argues that America is built on egalitarianism, but that partisanship is a permanent and necessary fixture. Wilentz paints a portrait of history through stories of politicians and egalitarians from Thomas Paine to Abraham Lincoln to W.E.B. Du Bois.

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The September 2026 cover of PAW, featuring the headline "Minds at Play" written in game pieces — crossword, Scrabble, and Rubics Cube.
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