"Reinventing "The People

The relationship between Progressivism, class, race, immigration, and twentieth-century liberalism is a complicated one that has long been the object of historical scrutiny. The historian Shelton Stromquist places the concept of class at the center of the discussion of reform in early twentieth century America, despite the denials of many of the Progressives themselves. His Re-Inventing “The People” is largely a work of synthesis, but an excellent one that takes the reader through the historiography and carves its own place within it. This book will be welcomed by labor, urban, political, and immigration historians, among others, as a solid contribution that sheds light on the Progressives' attitudes on various issues, but particularly on class. The vast economic changes of the post—Civil War era brought the question of social class to the forefront of American politics. Names such as Homestead, Pullman, and Ludlow mark the era as one of extreme violence in which class played a central role. Stromquist argues that Progressives believed that the challenges of this era could be dealt with through the renewal of democracy and citizenship, thus creating a classless society and reaffirming America's republican tradition. Naturally, their own prejudices defined how Progressives believed this new democratic system should evolve. The author shows how ideas concerning class mixed with other important issues of the day, especially immigration, race, gender, and war

Citizenship · Democracy · Historiography · Immigration · Liberalism · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Progressivism · Scrutiny · Sociology · American History and Culture · History · Law · Race, History, and American Society