The Progressive historians were a group of 20th century historians of the United States associated with a historiographical tradition that embraced an economic interpretation of American history.[1][2] Most prominent among these was Charles A. Beard, who was influential in academia and with the general public.[1]
Historyedit
From 1910 to the 1940s, "Progressive" historiography was dominant, especially in political studies. It stressed the central importance of class conflict in American history. Important leaders included Vernon L. Parrington, Carl L. Becker, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Sr., John Hicks, and C. Vann Woodward.[3] The movement established a strong base at the History Department at the University of Wisconsin with Curtis Nettels, William Hesseltine, Merle Curti, Howard K. Beale, Merrill Jensen, Fred Harvey Harrington (who became the university president), William Appleman Williams, and a host of graduate students.[4]Charles A. Beard was the most prominent representative with his "Beardian" approach that reached both scholars and the general public.[1]
In covering the Civil War, Charles and Mary Beard did not find it useful to examine nationalism, unionism, states' rights, slavery, abolition or the motivations of soldiers in battle. Instead, they proclaimed it was a:
social cataclysm in which the capitalists, laborers, and farmers of the North and West drove from power in the national government the planting aristocracy of the South. Viewed under the light of universal history, the fighting was a fleeting incident; the social revolution was the essential portentous outcome.... The Second American Revolution, while destroying the economic foundation of the slave-owning aristocracy, assured the triumph of business enterprise.[5]
Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. wrote the Age of Jackson (1945), one of the last major books from this viewpoint. Schlesinger made Jackson a hero for his successful attacks on the Second Bank of the United States. His own views were clear enough: "Moved typically by personal and class, rarely by public, considerations, the business community has invariably brought national affairs to a state of crisis and exasperated the rest of society into dissatisfaction bordering on revolt."[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcHofstadter, Richard (1979). The progressive historians--Turner, Beard, Parrington. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN0-226-34818-0. OCLC 4983475.
^Drake, Richard (2018-12-15), "Introduction: The Beardian Interpretation of American History", Introduction: The Beardian Interpretation of American History, Cornell University Press, pp. 1–6, doi:10.7591/9781501715143-004/html?lang=en, ISBN978-1-5017-1514-3, retrieved 2023-04-26
^John Higham, History: Professional Scholarship in America (1965) pp 171–211
^Paul Buhle, ed., History and the New Left: Madison, Wisconsin, 1950–1970 (1990)
^Charles A. Beard and Mary R. Beard, The Rise of American Civilization (1927) vol 2 pp 54, 166
progressive, historians, were, group, 20th, century, historians, united, states, associated, with, historiographical, tradition, that, embraced, economic, interpretation, american, history, most, prominent, among, these, charles, beard, influential, academia, . The Progressive historians were a group of 20th century historians of the United States associated with a historiographical tradition that embraced an economic interpretation of American history 1 2 Most prominent among these was Charles A Beard who was influential in academia and with the general public 1 History editFrom 1910 to the 1940s Progressive historiography was dominant especially in political studies It stressed the central importance of class conflict in American history Important leaders included Vernon L Parrington Carl L Becker Arthur M Schlesinger Sr John Hicks and C Vann Woodward 3 The movement established a strong base at the History Department at the University of Wisconsin with Curtis Nettels William Hesseltine Merle Curti Howard K Beale Merrill Jensen Fred Harvey Harrington who became the university president William Appleman Williams and a host of graduate students 4 Charles A Beard was the most prominent representative with his Beardian approach that reached both scholars and the general public 1 In covering the Civil War Charles and Mary Beard did not find it useful to examine nationalism unionism states rights slavery abolition or the motivations of soldiers in battle Instead they proclaimed it was a social cataclysm in which the capitalists laborers and farmers of the North and West drove from power in the national government the planting aristocracy of the South Viewed under the light of universal history the fighting was a fleeting incident the social revolution was the essential portentous outcome The Second American Revolution while destroying the economic foundation of the slave owning aristocracy assured the triumph of business enterprise 5 Arthur Schlesinger Jr wrote the Age of Jackson 1945 one of the last major books from this viewpoint Schlesinger made Jackson a hero for his successful attacks on the Second Bank of the United States His own views were clear enough Moved typically by personal and class rarely by public considerations the business community has invariably brought national affairs to a state of crisis and exasperated the rest of society into dissatisfaction bordering on revolt 6 References edit a b c Hofstadter Richard 1979 The progressive historians Turner Beard Parrington Chicago University of Chicago Press ISBN 0 226 34818 0 OCLC 4983475 Drake Richard 2018 12 15 Introduction The Beardian Interpretation of American History Introduction The Beardian Interpretation of American History Cornell University Press pp 1 6 doi 10 7591 9781501715143 004 html lang en ISBN 978 1 5017 1514 3 retrieved 2023 04 26 John Higham History Professional Scholarship in America 1965 pp 171 211 Paul Buhle ed History and the New Left Madison Wisconsin 1950 1970 1990 Charles A Beard and Mary R Beard The Rise of American Civilization 1927 vol 2 pp 54 166 Schlesinger Age of Jackson 1945 p 521 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Progressive historians amp oldid 1176426566, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
