Southern Progressivism in Historical Perspective
The 1890s and the 1990s
Abstract
Since the pioneering essays of Arthur Link (1946) and Anne Firor Cott (1963) until the most recent interpretations (George Tindall, Dewey Grantham, William Link and others), Southern Progressivism has challenged historians and sociologists who have tried to dissect the many paradoxes of the post-Civil War years, until the 1920s. My essay focuses on some of the most important interpretations, such as the issue of continuity/discontinuity between populism and progressivism, regionalism in the Southern progressive movement, the idea of Southern Progressive leaders to create a sort of reconciliation between tradition and progress. William Link on the other hand emphasises the contradictions of a society in need of reforms, but resisting change in order to maintain old privileges. The historiographical debate is ongoing and today new books offer interesting insights on the role of women in supporting community welfare and social reforms.
Copyright (c) 2000 The Author(s)
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