Prepping as an American Phenomenon

This chapter looks at the history of prepping as an American phenomenon. Starting with the Great Depression, through World War II and the rise of the Cold War, the impulse to prepare for the destruction of America (economically, socially, or even physically) has been on the minds of several generations. I look at both the rhetoric and the culture of prepping during these eras, as well as subsequent apocalyptic anxieties that filled the vacuum once the Cold War was over. The role of the media and how it generates apocalyptic anxieties is also discussed, with some exploration of “apocalyptic desire” as an aspect of American culture. I connect these back to ideas of frontier mythology and civil religion in the conclusion of this chapter.