from: Lexington Books
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 324.27327
EAN: 9780739123041
ISBN: 0739123041
Label: Lexington Books
Manufacturer: Lexington Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 340
Publication Date: May 28, 2008
Publisher: Lexington Books
Studio: Lexington Books
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
This collection of writings by prominent politicians, authors, and activists of the Progressive Era explores Progressivism's role in the development of American political thought. Pestritto and Atto provide insight into each figure's influence on Progressive Era American politics by introducing each entry with the context within which the author of a given selection is writing.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
You've got to wonder how many people would continue to call themselves "Progressives" if they knew what the core beliefs of that movement were REALLY all about.
Pestritto and Atto have cobbled together excerpts from some of the leading political and intellectual lights of the early American Progressive movement into one handy reference. In other words, this is a collection of primary source excerpts -- Progressive leaders in their own written and spoken words. Naturally, our two early progressive presidents, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt, figure prominently. In addition, we get material from such leading progressives as Charles Beard, Jane Addams, Walter Rauschenbusch, John Dewey, and Herbert Croly.
As a history professor, I found this book an invaluable resource, chock-full of interesting quotes to share with my students. Many are shocked when they read/hear what the progressive leaders had to say -- even some students who considered themselves 'progressives' were noticably knocked a little off-balance ideologically to find out how much statism, naked power-worship, anti-individualism, contempt for the Constitution and checks & balances, kooky religious ideas, and racism can be found in the thoughts and words of progressive leaders. I appreciate that because I try to raise as many questions in my students' minds as I answer, and to challenge their beliefs (by the way I do the same thing to conservatives when covering other time periods, too.)
The information in this book is a total rebuttal to the standard textbook explanation that the progressives were just a bunch of people who selflessly wanted to help out the poor and disadvantaged. That's an element of progressivism, to be sure, but there's a LOT more to it than that, particularly at the levels of political and intellectual leadership.
This book will give you a much greater understanding of how our system got to be the way it is, why we deviated in the last century so much from the original focus of our country (which was liberty), and how we instead ended up with a government dominated by two parties who always and continuously increase federal power, regardless of pandering rhetoric to the contrary.
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This is a book that should be a adjunct reading requirement in all high school history courses. The material contained was not taught in the 50's and sure isn't taught now. . .
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Using writings and speeches by prominent progressives over the last 100 years, the book shows the dangers of this misguided belief system and the unintended consequences that result from putting such utopian ideas into policy. A must read given the current political situation in this Country.
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I bought this book when I began hearing the liberal left speaking in terms of being "Progressive". I wanted to understand just exactly what is a Progressive democrat since it seemed that the liberals of today were advocating more government control than we have seen in many years. This book is very informative but don't expect an easy read. It is text book material and in many instances I had to cross reference my reading by keeping my computer handy to reference events, persons and policies that the text assumes you should know. It is very accurate and informative if you have the patience to read and investigate. In some ways, I learned more by having to go slow and investigate as I went. I better understand the totalitarian development that has taken the liberal left since Roosevelt's time. Nevertheless, I am sure there are other books which could explain the principles and historical events in more easily understood text.
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I am still reading, but this is an excellent book for those interested in the thinking of Progressives in United States politics. I would recommend this book for high school students before they go to college.
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