The Progressive Era, from the 1890s to the 1920s, was one of the most important periods in American social,
political, and economic history. During this time, the United States saw a great change in the role of government,
particularly in terms of its involvement in the regulation of business and industry. This era has often been characterized
as the first period in which government power was increased for largely egalitarian reasons; however, many have
argued the opposite case--that the legislation was designed by industry to serve its own purposes.
In America Reformed: Progressives and Progressivisms, 1890s-1920s, author Maureen A. Flanagan introduces progressivism
less as a straightforward history of actual reforms than as a revision of the ways in which Americans organized
themselves to confront the problems of their society. She examines how this reorganization in turn drew Americans
into a new type of relationship with the federal government. Drawing on the most up-to-date scholarship, Flanagan
explores what democracy meant to various citizens and emphasizes the "social justice" movement as an
integral aspect of progressive reforms. Organized around four thematic lines of progressivism--political, social
justice, economic, and foreign policy--the book analyzes the various ideas, actors, and movements that constituted
the timeperiod. By incorporating coverage of how women, African Americans, and ethnic and working-class organizations
participated in progressive reform movements, Flanagan reveals how the reform struggles of the period all revolved
around defining the nature and purpose of U.S. democracy. Ideal for undergraduate courses in the U.S. Progressive
Era and the Gilded Age/Progressive Era, America Reformed features documents, maps, and illustrations throughout,
as well as anecdotes of historical events to introduce each chapter. The text also includes references to scholarly
websites of original source material.