Themes & Threads: Social Reform
“An Address on Female Suffrage”
Source: Catharine E. Beecher, Woman’s Profession as Mother and Educator, with Views in Opposition to…
Lynch Law in America
Source: The Arena 23 (January 1900): 15–24. Our country's national crime is lynching. It is…
Gender and Equality
"The influence of woman is not limited to the domestic circle. Society is her empire."…
Populists and Progressives
After the Civil War, the challenges presented by a developing industrial economy helped to encourage…
Progress and Poverty
Source: Henry George, Progress and Poverty: An Inquiry into the Cause of Industrial Depressions and…
“The Study of Administration”
Source: Woodrow Wilson, “The Study of Administration,” Political Science Quarterly 2, no. 2 (June 1887):…
“The Inheritance of Property”
Source: Richard T. Ely, “The Inheritance of Property,” North American Review 153, no. 146 (July…
“The Subjective Necessity for Social Settlements”
Source: Philanthropy and Social Progress: Seven Essays by Miss Jane Addams, Robert A. Woods, Father…
The Niagara Movement’s “Address to the Country”
Source: W. E. B. Du Bois, “Address to the Country,” speech at Harpers Ferry, West…
Christianity and the Social Crisis
Source: Walter Rauschenbusch, Christianity and the Social Crisis (New York: Macmillan, 1907), 247–86, available online…
“The Right of the People to Rule”
Source: Theodore Roosevelt, “The Right of the People to Rule,” Outlook 100 (March 1912): 618–23,…
The Progressive Party Platform
Source: George Henry Payne, The Birth of the New Party or Progressive Democracy (Atlanta: J.…
Progressive Democracy
Source: Herbert Croly, Progressive Democracy (New York: Macmillan, 1914), 262–66, 268–83, available online at the…
Open Letters to Woodrow Wilson
Source: Editorial: “An Open Letter to Woodrow Wilson,” The Crisis (March 1913): 236–37; Editorial: “Another…
“The Philosophy of the Declaration in the Nineteenth Century”
Source: Carl L. Becker, The Declaration of Independence: A Study in the History of Political…
“The Crisis in Liberalism”
Source: John Dewey, Liberalism and Social Action (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1935), 37–61,…
“The American Conception of Liberty”
Source: Frank Johnson Goodnow, The American Conception of Liberty and Government (Providence, RI: Standard, 1916),…
Plessy v. Ferguson
Source: 163 U.S. 537; https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/163/537 Justice BROWN delivered the opinion of the Court, joined by…
“The Right of the People, Men and Women, to Petition”
Source: Speech of John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts, upon the Right of the People, Men…
CIRCULAR: Addressed to Benevolent Ladies of the United States
Source: CIRCULAR: Addressed to Benevolent Ladies of the United States . . . [Boston]: [Printed…
Green Party Platform 2000
Source: “Official Green Party Platform, as adopted at the National Nominating Convention” (Denver, CO: June…
“Now We Can Begin”
Source: The Liberator, December 1920. Most women will agree that August 23, the day when…
Causes of the Civil War
This volume of primary documents on the causes of the Civil War presents the history…
Implementing Brown v. Board of Education: One Southern Town’s Story
Part I: Behind the Scenes, an Interracial Team Plans Integration Ellen Deitz Tucker In May…
Women’s Voices: Religion in American History and Politics
While women have historically made up an overwhelming percentage of America's religious practitioners, their roles…
Religion and the Pure Principles of Morality: The Sure Foundation on Which We Must Build
Source: Meditations from the Pen of Mrs. Maria W. Stewart (Washington, D. C., 1879). We…
Record of the Organization and Proceedings of The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo
Source: “A Book of Records, Containing the Proceedings of The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo,”…
The People’s God: Its Effect on Health and Christianity
Source: Mary Baker Eddy, “The People’s God: Its Effect on Health and Christianity,” The Christian…
Mother Jones Writes Plea to Roosevelt
Source: “Mother Jones Writes Plea to Roosevelt,” North American, July 30, 1903. From a Staff…
Religious Education and Contemporary Social Conditions
Source: Jane Addams, “The Social Situation: Religious Education and Contemporary Social Conditions,” Religious Education 6,…
Personal Reactions In Time of War
Source: Jane Addams, “Personal Reactions In Time of War,” Peace and Bread in Time of…
Exploring the Link between Womanhood and the Rabbinate
Source: [Amy Eilberg], “Exploring the Link between Womanhood and the Rabbinate: Lilith Interviews the First…
Citizenship and Faith
Source: Amina Wadud, “Citizenship and Faith,” in Woman and Citizenship, Marilyn Friedman, ed. (New York:…
One Day Seminar: Social Reform – 1790 to 1850, hosted by Broken Arrow Schools (Tulsa, OK)
Join teachers from the region to study the various social reform movements that shaped and…
Statement on the War in Vietnam
Source: Wisconsin Historical Society, Freedom Summer Collection, Lucile Montgomery Papers, 1963-1967, Historical Society Library Microforms…
The Negro in American Life (Guidance for the Voice of America)
Source: Record Group 59, Records of the Department of State, Records Relating to International Information…
Speech on the Fair Labor Standards Act
Source: Congressional Record, 75th Cong., 3rd sess., vol. 83, pt. 6 (May 16, 1938), pp.…
Message to Congress on Establishing Minimum Wages and Maximum Hours
Source: Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Message to Congress on Establishing Minimum Wages and Maximum Hours.” Online…
“Betrayal of the Democratic Party”
Source: “The Facts in the Case,” Speech of Alfred E. Smith at the American Liberty…
Statement on the Share Our Wealth Society
Source: Congressional Record, 74th Cong., 1st sess., Vol. 79 (May 23, 1935), pp. 8040-43. The…
Speech to Congress on Social Security
Source: The Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Volume Four, The Court Disapproves,…
Press Statement on the Use of Federal Funds for Relief
Source: Herbert Hoover, "Statement on Public vs. Private Financing of Relief Efforts.” Online by Gerhard…
“Do You Want Your Wife to Work After the War?”
Source: “Do You Want Your Wife to Work After the War?” G. I. Roundtable Series,…
Letters to Yank Magazine
Source: Rupert Trimmingham, letters to the editor, Yank, April 28, 1944 and July 28, 1944.…
Questions and Answers About the WAAC
Source: United States Army Women’s Auxiliary Corps, “73 Questions and Answers About the WAAC,” World…
“Why Should We March?”
Source: A. Philip Randolph, “Why Should We March?” Survey Graphic 31 (November 1942), pp 488-89.…
“The United States Cannot Remain Half-Slave and Half-Free”
Source: Frederick Douglass, Address by Hon. Frederick Douglass, Delivered in the Congregational Church, Washington, D.C.,…
Inaugural Address (1877)
Source: Rutherford B. Hayes: Inaugural Address, March 5, 1877. Online by Gerhard Peters and John…
Testimony to Sub-Committee on Reconstruction in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Source: Testimony Taken by the Joint Select Committee to Enquire into the Condition of Affairs…
Proclamation on Enforcement of the 14th Amendment
Source: Ulysses S. Grant: “Proclamation 199 – Enforcement of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United…
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