Muckraking and Progressivism in the American Tradition - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 156000875X ISBN 13: 9781560008750

Publisher: Routledge, 1996

Synopsis

Muckraking and progressivism have always marched arm-in-arm, cutting a wide path through modern American history. Originally published as Appointment at Armageddon, Filler's book is a vital contribution in understanding the intrinsic dynamic of reform in American life. It extracts from the issues that fostered progressivism and muckraking an essence that illuminates contemporary debate.

Filler points out that early twentieth-century progressivism was essentially middle class, seeking common denominators for social interests. It was also a modernizing force in such areas as child labor, poverty, farm problems, and race relations. In his new introduction, Filler reviews various instances of progressivism throughout history.

Filler maintains that progressivism died out when pride in its achievements turned to bitterness. Rather than celebrating the progress made by outstanding Americans, such as W.E.B. DuBois and Susan B. Anthony, various groups began focusing only on the oppressed and the oppressors. By concentrating on the negative instead of the positive, Americans abandoned the forward-looking tenets of turn of the century progressivism.

Muckraking and Progressivism in the American Tradition is a timely book. It is needed to inspire Americans to find a new way to solve current dilemmas. This significant work will be of interest to sociologists, historians, and political theorists.

About this title

About the Author

Louis Filler (1911-1998) was a Fulbright fellow at the University of Bristol and taught as a visiting professor in literature and history departments from the City University of New York to the University of California, San Francisco. His books include the classic Muckrakers, best-selling Crusade Against Slavery, Dictionary of American Social Reform, Unknown, Edwin Markham, Dictionary of American Conservatism, Vanguards and Followers, Distinguished Shades: Americans Whose Lives Live On,and Abolition and Social Justice in the Era of Reform, among many others, as well as biographies of Randolph Bourne and David Graham Phillips.

Review

“Louis Filler’s work, and [Muckraking and Progressivism] in particular, is unique and urgently necessary for any reader who has been tempted to challenge the motives or vitality of American reformers.”

—David P. Thelen, editor, Journal of American History

“Nowhere else in the literature of reform do certain elements come together as meaningfully and as persuasively as they do in [this book].”

—Robert H. Walker, American Studies Program, George Washington University

“[I]t is lively, interesting and insightful and above all judicious and wise. Congratulations on a great achievement.”

—Arthur S. Link, editor of The Papers of Woodrow Wilson

“[This] is a fascinating and important book.”

—Richard L. Watson, Duke University

“[Filler] handle[s] the Black Sox business well.”

—James T. Farrell, author  of the Studs Lonigan novels and of My Baseball Diary

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 156000875X
• ISBN 13: 9781560008750
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 476
• Editor: Filler Louis