The men and women who led the reform movement wanted to extend the nations ideals of liberty and equality to all americans. The age of reform was, rather, an effort to address an im. Du bois, black reconstruction 1935 and richard hofstadter, the age of reform 1955. Richard hofstadter books list of books by author richard. Born in 1916, richard hofstadter was one of the leading american historians and public intellectuals of the 20th century. Politics and government, progressivism united states politics. From 1942 to 1946 he taught at the university of maryland. The book was acclaimed because the author examined the political growth in america from the years 1890 to 1940, explaining the reform movement through several key figures, primarily william jennings bryan and franklin delano roosevelt. It is an american history that traces events from the populist movement of the 1890s through the progressive era ending with the new deal in the 1930s.
I concur with christopher laschs assessment of hofstadters critique of provincialism, viz. Salyer associate professor of history, university of new hampshire. The fact that it was published in 1955 had an effect on the facts of the reform organizations. Historians have labeled the period 183050 an age of reform. The age of reform is an evaluation of the reform associations from bryan to f. The age of reform entitles hofstadter to rank with c. The impact today the spirit of reform is alive and well in the modern world. In an examination of the age of reform it becomes apparent that the entire analysis of populism is built upon hofstadters selection of five dominant themes in populist ideology.
Richard hofstadter 19161970 was a leading historian of late nineteenth and twentieth century america. The surge of reform, though largely turned back in the 1890s and temporarily reversed in the 1920s, has set the tone of american politics for the greater part of the twentieth century. It examines the passion for progress and reform that colored the entire period from 1890 to 194. The age of reform 19101940 chapter three by lucy e. Richard hofstadter 19161970 was one of the leading american historians and intellectuals of the twentieth century. Richard hofstadter august 6, 1916 october 24, 1970 was an american historian and public intellectual of the mid20th century. Shortly after the publication of the american political tradition, richard hofstadter received a castigatory letter from an enraged reader. As always, hofstadter is an insightful commentator, offering an interesting synthesis of a portion of the american pastin this case, the period roughly from 1890 to 1940. Richard hofstadters the age of reform remains fresh and readable today, even though it was written in 1955.
Jonathan cape, 1962 the age of reform from bryan to f. Hofstadters analysis of the reformations in a modern perspective and the d. In this widelyinfluential book, he used the idea of status politics, that is the idea. Richard hofstadter papers, 19441970 columbia university. The age of reform richard hofstadter usa online essays. The age of reform searches out the moral and emotional motives of the reformers, the myths and dreams in which they believed, and the realities with which they had to compromise. The american political tradition 1948, the age of reform 1955, antiintellectualism in american life 1963, and the paranoid style in american politics 1964 are works that all american history students encounter. He won the pulitzer prize for his 1955 book the age of reform which examined three major reform movements.
Throughout his career, he worked at many universities, most recently as the dewitt clinton professor of history at columbia university. The age of reform is a candid approach to the reforms from 1890 to 1941. Today hofstadters most widely read book, this study of the ideology of american statesmanship, with its profiles, often satirical, of leaders from thomas jefferson to franklin d. His bestknown works include the american political tradition and the men who made it, the paranoid style in american politics, the age of reform, and antiintellectualism in american life initially, a communist greatly influenced by the work of the. It examines the passion for progress and reform that colored the entire period from 1890 to 1940, isbn 9780394700953 buy the the age of reform ebook. At this time, at the age of 22i had spent some time out of school, working and fucking aroundi didnt know what reconstruction was, or why it mattered. His works include the age of reform, antiintellectualism in american life, social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, the american political tradition, and others. Hofstadter wrote some of the most influential books to appear in american political and cultural history, among them the age of reform 1955 and antiintellectualism in american life 1963, both recognized with pulitzer prizes, and the celebrated the paranoid style in american politics 1965. Rejecting his earlier communist approach to history, in the 1950s he came closer to the concept. The following two essays are revised versions of presentations made. The age of reform by richard hofstadter won the pulitzer prize for history in 1956. As a way of introducing students to the variety of reform movements, this lesson. The age of reform isbn 9780394700953 pdf epub richard.
In the age of reform1955 hofstadter took a dim view of the populiststhe struggling western and southern farmers of the gilded age who chafed under the political power of. The age of reform searches out the moral and emotional motives of the reformers the myths and dreams in which. To the reader, hofstadters hatred of his native land seemed apparent and his filthy lies were clearly part of the wider assault on. Preeminent richard hofstadter examines the passion for progress and reform that colored the entire period from 1890 to 1940 with startling and stimulating results. This acclaimed book by richard hofstadter is available at in several formats for your ereader. Download pdf the age of reform free online new books.
The age of reform book by richard hofstadter 2 available. At the same time that the pursuit of the dollar was becoming so frenzied that some observers called it the countrys true religion, tens of thousands of americans joined an array of movements dedicated to spiritual and secular uplift. Vann woodward as a master of creative synthesis, as an interpreter of the past who can add to cold data an emphatic insight that transforms history from a book of the dead into a chronicle of life. The age of reform by richard hofstadter, paperback. An age of realism by richard hofstadter wherever the real power in a government lies, there is the danger of oppression. Hofstadter debuted his argument in his pulitzer prize winning 1955 study the age of reform, and as the cold war drove american politics, on the right especially, into operatic new registers of. In his 1955 the age of reform, historian richard hofstadter reflected on reformist movements ranging from nineteenthcentury populism to the new deal. Richard hofstadters career as a professional historian paralleled the heyday of twentiethcentury liberalism 193368.
In an examination of the age of reform it becomes apparent that the entire analysis of populism is built upon hofstadter s selection of five dominant themes in populist ideology. This is a major work, so dont sidetrack it as just another superficial summary of the years through which weve lived. The age of reform stands out from other historical material because hofstadters main purpose for writing is not to retell an extensive history of the three. For more than a decade after its appearance in 1955, its interpretations shaped virtually every discussion of modern american reform. Richard hofstadter august 6, 1916 october 24, 1970 was an american historian and public intellectual of the mid20th century hofstadter was the dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia university. The syllabus listed about a dozen required books, as i remember, among them w. The age of reform searches out the moral and emotional motives of the reformers the myths and dreams.
Today hofstadter s most widely read book, this study of the ideology of american statesmanship, with its profiles, often satirical, of leaders from thomas jefferson to franklin d. Populism 1890s, progressivism 19001914, and the new deal 1930s. Hofstadter s analysis of the reformations in a modern perspective and the d. Reformers set out to improve the lives of the disadvantaged, especially enslaved people and the urban poor.
Vann woodward in 1963, hofstadter characterized the pops as pretty good. Preeminent richard hofstadter examines the passion for. Brinkley richard hofstadters the age of reform 477. He was the dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia. Amidst the insults and accusations, the correspondent declared the work a rotten, disloyal book. Roosevelt, introduced the consensus theory of american history. Between 1955 and 1965 hofstadters standing in scholarly circles continued to grow as he produced three significant booksthe age of reform. R richard hofstadter this analysis of the reform movements in american politics from. The age of reform is a 1955 pulitzer prizewinning book by richard hofstadter. Only rarely, however, can it be found in the work of richard hofstadter. Oct, 2011 the populist and progressive movements in this country taken by the author in their largest sense are viewed in their constituent parts and seen as leading to the new dealtype ideal of reform.
Chapter 14 the age of reform 411 a new reforming spirit arose in america in the early 1800s. Rejecting his earlier communist approach to history, in the 1950s he came closer to the concept of consensus history, and was epitomized by some of his. Jun 22, 2017 richard hofstadter is undoubtedly one of the great figures in the american historical canon. Hofstadter in his \jost age of reform correspondence insisted on his respect for the populists and genuinely professed not to be able to fathom why read ers considered his portrait of them unfriendly. Hofstadters arguments about the populist and progressive movements and their origins started debate and renewed scholarship on the populist and progressive movements. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Buy the age of reform by richard hofstadter online at alibris. Possible ex library copy, with all the markingsstickers of that library. The reform movements that swept through american society after 1820 were reactions to a range of factors. The states n reform administrations swept into office n iowa and arkansas 1901 n oregon 1902 n minnesota, kansas and mississippi 1904 n new york and georgia 1906 n nebraska 1909 n new jersey and colorado 1910. The book is an american history that traces events from the populist movement of the 1890s through the progressive era ending with the new deal in the 1930s. Hofstadter was the dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia university. Hofstadter s arguments about the populist and progressive movements and their origins started debate and renewed scholarship on the populist and progressive movements.
Hofstadter exams the path of reform from the 1890s through the 1930s. Accessories such as cd, codes, toys, and dust jackets may not be included. The age of reform 18201860 why it matters the idea of reformthe drive to improve society and the lives of americansgrew during the mid1800s. This book is a landmark in american political thought. This article is excerpted, without endnotes, from the societys forthcoming history of the california supreme court. Richard hofstadter s the age of reform remains fresh and readable today, even though it was written in 1955.
As previously stated, one of hofstadter s principal goals was to clear up the overly strong association between the new deal and the other two reformist periods. Pages contain marginal notes, underlining, and or highlighting. Essay about richard hofstadters the age of reform bartleby. The age of reform by richard hofstadter overdrive rakuten. It is an american history, which traces events from the populist movement of the 1890s through the progressive era to the new deal of the 1930s. Dec 21, 2011 born in 1916, richard hofstadter was one of the leading american historians and public intellectuals of the 20th century. Paranoid style in american politics university of washington. It is an american history, which traces events from the populist movement of the.
They believed the nation should live up to the noble goals stated in the declaration of independence and the constitution. What richard hofstadter got wrong the new republic. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The age of reform has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The age of reform by richard hofstadter librarything. Richard hofstadter 19161970 was a historian and the author of several books on united states political history and thought. James livingston on life and the age of reform by richard. Richard hofstadters the age of reform in 1955, richard hofstadter wrote his pulitzer prize winning book the age of reform, about the gilded age. The age of reform became hofstadter s first systematic effort to put these new approaches into practice. The age of reform searches out the moral and emotional motives of the reformers the myths and dreams in which they believed, and the realities with which they had to compromise. Hofstadter, whose american political tradition established him as a serious student in the field, describes this analysis as primarily a study of. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.