Jamie, Kevin, et al. I would highly recommend this book, not yet released, by Richard Gamble, professor at Hillsdale College and a former Clyde Wilson student, like myself. I think it would answer the OP quite nicely.
http://www.amazon.com/Search-City-Hill-Unmaking-American/dp/1441162321/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338171621&sr=1-4
