American Progressivism: A Reader

by Ronald J. Pestritto Hillsdale College, William Atto University of Dallas

Overview

American Progressivism is a one-volume edition of some of the most important essays, speeches, and book excerpts from the leading figures of national Progressivism. It is designed for classroom use, includes an accessible interpretive essay, and introduces each selection with a brief historical and conceptual background. The introductory essay is written with the student in mind, and addresses the important characteristics of Progressive thought and the role of Progressives in the development of the American political tradition. Students of American political thought, American politics, American history, the presidency, Congress, and political parties will find this reader to be an invaluable source for insight into Progressivism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739123041
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	05/02/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	340
Sales rank:	912,048
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Ronald J. Pestritto is Charles and Lucia Shipley Chair in the American Constitution at Hillsdale College and author of Woodrow Wilson and the Roots of Modern Liberalism and Woodrow Wilson: The Essential Political Writings. William J. Atto is assistant professor in the department of history at the University of Dallas.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Table of Contents
Chapter 2 Preface and Acknowledgements
Chapter 3 Introduction to American Progressivism
Part 4 I The Principles of Progressivism
Chapter 5 A. Who is a Progressive?
Chapter 6 B. Excerpr fromThe New Freedom, Chapter 2
Chapter 7 C. The American Conception of Liberty
Part 8 II Progressive Interpretations of History
Chapter 9 A. The Significance of the Frontier in American History
Chapter 10 B. Excerpt fromAn Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, Chapter 1
Part 11 III Social Justice, Social Gospel, and Education
Chapter 12 A. Subjective Necessity for Social Settlements
Chapter 13 B. Social Christianity and Personal Religion
Chapter 14 C. The Socializing of Property
Chapter 15 D. My Pedagogic Creed
Chapter 16 E. Father Blakely States the Issue
Part 17 IV Leadership and the American Presidency
Chapter 18 A. Leaders of Men
Chapter 19 B.Excerpt from Constitutional Government in the United States, Chapter 3
Chapter 20 C. Inaugural Address, 1905
Chapter 21 D. Excerpt from An Autobiography, Chapter 10
Part 22 V National Administration
Chapter 23 A. The Study of Administration
Chapter 24 B. The New Nationalism
Part 25 VI Parties & Direct Democracy
Chapter 26 A. Excerpt from La Follette's Autobiography, Chapter 8
Chapter 27 B. Excerpt fromProgressive Democracy, Chapters 12 and 13
Part 28 VII The Election of 1912
Chapter 29 A. Progressive Platform of 1912
Chapter 30 B. Excerpt fromProgressive Democracy, Introduction
Part 31 VIII Progressivism, War, and Peace
Chapter 32 A. War Message to Congress, April 2, 1917
Chapter 33 B. Opposition to Wilson's War Message
Chapter 34 C. Fourteen Points
Chapter 35 Index
Chapter 36 About the Editors

Editorial Reviews

Pestritto and Atto have pieced together an excellent collection of essays. The progressives--from Wilson and Roosevelt to Addams and Rauschenbush--emerge clearly in this superb set of primary source essays. We can see in these essays the goals of the progressives to circumvent the Constitution and to try to centralize political power in the hands of the few. I do not know of a better collection of essays on the progressives.--Burton W. Folsom, Jr., Hillsdale College

The Progressive era is second in importance only to the Founding itself for a clear understanding of American political ideas and institutions. Many of the deepest debates in contemporary American political life, ranging from the authority of the Constitution, to the role of parties and interest groups, to the proper stance of the United States in world politics, are traceable back to their roots in the Progressive era. Yet we have devoted remarkably little attention to the careful analysis of Progressivism, partly because we have not looked carefully at the documents that defined "Progressivism" and served to promote it. But now, thanks to Pestritto and Atto's thoughtful and carefully assembled anthology, this defect has been remedied. Every serious student of American politics and history will be in their debt for this excellent collection.--Wilfred M. McClay, University of Oklahoma

This documentary collection provides a fresh and incisive analysis of seminal texts of the Progressive movement that have been uncritically accepted as timeless truths by elusive and ever-changing liberal relativists. Pestritto and Atto illuminate the intellectual vacuity of the Progessive project to substitute history for philosophy as the standard of political right in America.--Herman Belz, University of Maryland

From the Publisher

Pestritto and Atto have pieced together an excellent collection of essays. The progressives—from Wilson and Roosevelt to Addams and Rauschenbush—emerge clearly in this superb set of primary source essays. We can see in these essays the goals of the progressives to circumvent the Constitution and to try to centralize political power in the hands of the few. I do not know of a better collection of essays on the progressives.

Burton W. Folsom

The Progressive era is second in importance only to the Founding itself for a clear understanding of American political ideas and institutions. Many of the deepest debates in contemporary American political life, ranging from the authority of the Constitution, to the role of parties and interest groups, to the proper stance of the United States in world politics, are traceable back to their roots in the Progressive era. Yet we have devoted remarkably little attention to the careful analysis of Progressivism, partly because we have not looked carefully at the documents that defined “Progressivism” and served to promote it. But now, thanks to Pestritto and Atto’s thoughtful and carefully assembled anthology, this defect has been remedied. Every serious student of American politics and history will be in their debt for this excellent collection.

Wilfred M. McClay

This documentary collection provides a fresh and incisive analysis of seminal texts of the Progressive movement that have been uncritically accepted as timeless truths by elusive and ever-changing liberal relativists. Pestritto and Atto illuminate the intellectual vacuity of the Progessive project to substitute history for philosophy as the standard of political right in America.

Herman Belz