Representative Americans: Populists and Progressives(Representative Americans)

Populists and Progressives, Norman K Risjord's next book in the Representative Americans series, gives readers a fascinating glimpse into the tumultuous turn of the twentieth century. Risjord brings together brief biographies to explore the political, social, and cultural dimensions of the period from 1890–1920. The work begins by personifying the rise of big business and the early struggle between capital and labor with profiles of John D. Rockefeller and Mother Jones. Next, a comparison of William Graham Sumner and Lester Frank Ward illuminates the intellectual debate over social Darwinism. The Great Plains’ form of Populism comes to life through the story of William Peffer, while Louis Brandeis represents the Wilsonian variety of Progressivism. A portrait of Carrie Chapman Catt provides a window into the women's suffrage movement and sketches of Alfred Thayer Mahan, Richard Harding Davis, and John Hay explore the shaping of American policies and politics. Finally, John Muir, W.E.B. DuBois, and Margaret Sanger represent individuals ahead of their time and mark the transition from Progressivism to the liberal thought of the latter half of the twentieth century.

Table of Contents:
Part I: Progress, Poverty, and Populists Chapter 1: John D. Rockefeller: Robber Baron or Industrial Pioneer? Chapter 2: Mother Jones: "We Have Nothing to Lose But Our Chains" Chapter 3: William Graham Sumner vs. Lester Frank Ward: The Intellectual Battleground Chapter 4: William A. Peffer: Prairie Populist Part II: Architects of Empire Chapter 5: Alfred Thayer Mahan: Apostle of Sea Power Chapter 6: Richard Harding Davis: The Romantic as Journalist Chapter 7: John Hay: "Echoes of Glory and a Legacy of Duty" Part III: Progressives Chapter 8: Louis D. Brandeis: The "People's Lawyer" Chapter 9: Carrie Chapman Catt: Progressivism and Women's Suffrage Chapter 10: John Muir: Nature's Evangelist Chapter 11: William E. Burghardt DuBois: The African-American's Dilemma Chapter 12: Margaret Sanger: Crusade for Birth Control

About the Author :
Norman K. Risjord is emeritus professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he taught for over three decades. He is the author of Jefferson's America, 1760–1815 and general editor of the American Profiles series.

Review :
Risjord's volume succeeds well in illustrating the importance of the Populist-Progressive era. His approach is through biographies of important and interesting figures, but the context he develops for each figure illuminates all the major issues and controversies of the period. Highly readable, it will serve well in courses within the period as well as in the American survey.