American Radicalism

Beginning with the American Revolution, this volume looks at the radical tradition in American history and the social movements that have unfolded over the last two hundred years. It provides a key to understanding how these movements and the thinkers behind them have emerged.Topics explored include women's movements, anarchism, and the struggles of African Americans, urban workers, and small family farmers against slavery, discrimination, and exploitation. Arranged chronologically, the chapters each contain one substantial article by a modern scholar and four primary-source documents that bring to life the ideas and people involved in particular radical movements.Daniel Pope's introductory essay lays out the nature and meaning of radicalism in American history and he also provides notes to the articles and documents, chronologies, and suggested reading lists. The flowing combination of key texts and valuable editorial context place this book at the forefront of student guides to American Radicalism.