A Disability History of the United States

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The first comprehensive exploration of disability history from pre-1492 to the present, this work centers the experiences of people with disabilities within the broader American narrative. It reexamines familiar historical events, such as slavery and immigration, while revealing connections between nativism and oralism in the late nineteenth century, as well as the impact of ableism on democracy's evolution. Utilizing primary-source documents and social histories, the book retells American history through the perspectives of those who lived it. Historian and disability scholar Nielsen emphasizes that understanding disability history involves looking beyond individual triumphs to consider mass movements and significant daily events shaped by diverse experiences. The narrative illustrates how concepts of disability have influenced key aspects of American life, from immigration policies to labor laws, and has justified slavery and gender discrimination. It includes harrowing accounts, such as the plight of blinded slaves and women subjected to involuntary sterilization, alongside inspiring stories of disabled miners and disability rights activists. This profound work reinterprets the nation's past, transforming it from a restrictive master narrative into a shared history that reflects the experiences of all.