"Public Opinion in the United States tracks developments in American society since World War II through the lens of public opinion. The authors assess national public opinion poll data from 1945 to 2008, targeting opinions about African-Americans, Jews, Muslim-Americans, gays and lesbians, immigration, abortion, and affirmative action. The volume provides a unique portrait of American society and how it has changed over the last sixty plus years."--BOOK JACKET.

Introduction : public opinion in the United States : a mirror of social contention and change -- 1. Public opinion toward African-Americans -- 2. Public opinion toward Jews -- 3. Public opinion toward the Muslim-American community -- 4. Public opinion toward gays and lesbians -- 5. Public opinion toward immigrants -- 6. Public opinion toward abortion -- 7. Public opinion toward affirmative action -- 8. The United States between 1945 and 1954 : a new world order with mounting challenges and anxieties -- 9. The United States between 1955 and 1964 : institutionalizing civil rights and Cold War interactions -- 10. The United States between 1965 and 1974 : a decade of opportunities and strife -- 11. The United States between 1975 and 1984 : setting the stage for ending the Cold War -- 12. The United States between 1985 and 1994 : sunset and dawn -- 13. The United States between 1995 and 2004 : enemy found but not defined -- 14. The United States between 2005 and 2008 : a new social movement on the rise -- 15. Concluding comments.