Defining Documents in American History: Liberalism

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Liberalism has long been a central factor in U.S. politics, going back at least to the New Deal and continuing through the Great Society of the 1960s and the social justice and environmental movements of today. As a social and political ideology, liberalism emphasizes the democratic ideals of anti-authoritarianism, the equality of all peoples, the rule of law, and democratic governance through regular elections and civil participation. Liberals generally accept that social progress entails a contest among differing ideas and beliefs, for the betterment of all. Liberal principles have lain behind many Democratic presidencies, from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s to Bill Clinton’s to Barack Obama’s and Joe Biden’s terms in office. And yet liberalism, long subject to criticism by conservatives, has lately suffered significant setbacks in U.S. politics, even as it continues to enjoy broad support among the American populace.

How has liberalism been informed by its past, and what is the best path forward for its supporters in the twenty-first century? Covering key moments and ideas from previous eras to today, this work explores this all-important thread in American political culture and how it has impacted the workings of government, the economy, national defense, international relations, law and society, domestic programs, and cultural values throughout U.S. history. The documents contained within these sections provide an overview of the history and significance of liberalism in American society, exploring key milestones in the movement’s development from the days of the Founding Fathers to the modern era.

These volumes present over one-hundred primary source and historical documents including book excerpts, court opinions, debates, and interview letters, to name a few. Each document provides insights into the significance of events surrounding liberalism in the United States, from Theodore Roosevelt’s speech on Corporate Trusts in 1902 to Bernie Sanders’s critique of Donald Trump’s address in 2025.

The material is organized into seven sections, each beginning with a brief introduction that examines the importance of the topic through a variety of historical documents. The seven sections include: 

• Progressive Era Liberalism
• Liberalism Writ Large: The New Deal and After
• Core Liberalism: Civil Rights
• The Core and More: Women’s and LGBTQ+ Rights
• Great Society Liberalism: the 1960s and ‘70s
• Liberalism and the Environment
• The New Era: Neoliberalism and Its Critics

Each Historical Document is supported by a critical essay, written by historians, teachers, and researchers, that includes a Summary Overview, Defining Moment, About the Author, Document Analysis, and Essential Themes. An important feature of each essay is a close reading of the primary source that develops broader themes, such as the author’s rhetorical purpose, social or class position, point of view, and other relevant issues. Each essay also includes a section entitled Bibliography and Additional Reading that provides suggestions for further readings and research.

Appendixes in this book include:

• Chronological List, which arranges all documents by date.
• Web Resources, an annotated list of websites that offer valuable supplemental resources.
• Bibliography lists of helpful articles and books for further study.

About the Series

The Defining Documents series provides in-depth commentary and analysis on the most important primary source documents in the United States and the world. The Defining Documents series is perfect for students, those researching a particular era, or anyone interested in world history. Visit www.salempress.com for more information about additional titles in this series.

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