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This book details the origins and implications of American progressivism, the movement that has thoroughly rejected the Founders' Constitution of limited government. The arguments of the book are vital for understanding central problems of American politics in the twenty-first century - including the reasons behind the incredible expansion of government powers.
List of contents
Introduction. A living thing: the progressive challenge to the American constitutional order Bradley C. S. Watson; Part I. Contested Constitutionalism and the Election of 1912: 1. The problem of democracy: recovering the Constitution from the progressives William Schambra; 2. Theodore Roosevelt, the Progressive Party, and the ascendance of the living Constitution Sidney M. Milkis; Part II. The Political Philosophy of Progressivism: 3. Progressivism and the Doctrine of Natural Rights James W. Ceaser; 4. John Dewey and the dilemma of progressive democracy Wilfred M. McClay; Part III. The Political Theory of the Progressive State: 5. Progressivism, the social sciences, and the rational state John Marini; 6. Making the state into a god: American progressivism and the social Gospel Ronald J. Pestritto; 7. Progressivism, social science, and Catholic social teaching in the building of the American welfare state James R. Stoner, Jr; Part IV. The Progressive Presidency: 8. The promise of the new nationalism and its challenge to the framers Jean M. Yarbrough; 9. William Howard Taft and the constitutionalist presidency in the progressive era Johnathan O'Neill; 10. Woodrow Wilson and the statesmanship of progress Charles R. Kesler; Part V. The Supreme Court, Congress, and the Future of the Constitution: 11. One supreme court: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Louis Brandeis, and the progressive revolution in constitutional jurisprudence Bradley C. S. Watson; 12. Regulations from the executive in need of scrutiny: the REINS Act and the art of teaching constitutionalism by legislation Eric R. Claeys.
About the author
Bradley C. S. Watson is Professor of Politics at Saint Vincent College, Pennsylvania, where he holds the Philip M. McKenna Chair in American and Western Political Thought. Watson has contributed to various journals and authored many books, including Living Constitution, Dying Faith (2009), Civic Education and Culture (2005), The Idea of the American University (2011), and The West at War (2006).
Summary
This book details the origins and implications of American progressivism, the movement that has thoroughly rejected the Founders' Constitution of limited government. The arguments of the book are vital for understanding central problems of American politics in the twenty-first century - including the reasons behind the incredible expansion of government powers.
