Nov 30, 2019
This week at In The Past Lane, the American History podcast, I
speak with Holly Jackson about her new book,
American Radicals: How 19th Century Protest Shaped The
Nation.”
Jackson is an associate professor of English at the University of
Massachusetts, Boston. She has written widely on US cultural
history for scholarly journals, as well as the New York
Times, the Washington Post, and the Boston
Globe.
In the course of our discussion, Holly Jackson explains:
How American radicals – from abolitionists and free thinkers, to
women’s rights advocates to socialists – reshaped American society
in the 19th century.
How these radicals justified their critique of US society by
invoking the Founders and calling upon Americans to live up to
their high ideals of liberty, equality, and justice.
How some Americans resisted the emerging capitalist economy by
forming cooperative societies based on socialist principles –
places like Brook Farm and New Harmony.
Why some radicals attacked mainstream religion as an impediment to
social progress, either for advocating superstitious ideas or
upholding evil practices like slavery of women’s subjugation.
Why it’s important to acknowledge that the American past – just
like the present – has been rocked by radicals demanding major
social change.
Recommended reading:
Holly Jackson, American Radicals: How 19th Century Protest Shaped The Nation (Crown, 2019)
Howard Brick and Christopher Phelps, Radicals in America: The U.S. Left since the Second World War
Michael Kazin, American Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nation
Timothy Patrick McCarthy, John Campbell McMillian, et al., The Radical Reader: A Documentary History of the American Radical Tradition
Howard Zinn, A People's History of the United States
More info about Holly Jackson - website
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Music for This Episode
Jay Graham, ITPL Intro (JayGMusic.com)
Kevin McCleod, “Impact Moderato” (Free Music Archive)
Andy Cohen, “Trophy Endorphins” (Free Music Archive)
Borrtex, “Perception” (Free Music Archive)
Jon Luc Hefferman, “Winter Trek” (Free Music Archive)
The Bell, “I Am History” (Free Music Archive)
Production Credits
Executive Producer: Lulu Spencer
Technical Advisors: Holly Hunt and Jesse Anderson
Podcasting Consultant: Dave Jackson of the School of Podcasting
Podcast Editing: Wildstyle Media
Photographer: John Buckingham
Graphic Designer: Maggie Cellucci
Website by: ERI Design
Legal services: Tippecanoe and Tyler Too
Social Media management: The Pony Express
Risk Assessment: Little Big Horn Associates
Growth strategies: 54 40 or Fight
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© In The Past Lane, 2019