Congress, Progressive Reform, and the New American State

An exploration of progressivism and the political change which established the modern American state.

Robert Harrison (Author)

9780521827898, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 April 2004

310 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.59 kg

"...well-researched, clearly-written, and provocative study...the study makes a significant constribution to early twentieth-century American political history and to a sharper definition of political progressivism." - American Historical Review, Steven L. Piott, Clarion University

Congress, Progressive Reform and the New American State uses a series of case-studies of reform legislation in Congress during the early twentieth century to explore the nature of progressivism and the processes of political change which resulted in the establishment of the modern American state. Among the topics covered are railroad regulation, labor relations, social policy of the District of Columbia, Republican insurgency, and the nature of Democratic progressivism. This work will be of interest to students of twentieth-century political history, the history of Congress, and the origins of the modern American state.

1. Introduction
2. Congress and the nation
3. The troubled subject of railroad regulation in the progressive era
4. Congress and the 'labor question'
5. The ideal of a 'model city': Congress and the District of Columbia
6. The Senate and progressive reform
7. Patterns of republican insurgency in the House of Representatives
8. Progressivism, democratic style
9. Congress, progressive reform, and the new American state.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], Politics & government [JP], History of the Americas [HBJK], Regional studies [GTB]