CSPAN: Katherine Benton-Cohen- 'Lectures In History: The Progressive Era'

Source:CSPAN- Theodore Roosevelt: at least arguably the father of the Progressive Movement in America, campaigning for President, perhaps in 1912.

"We visit Georgetown University for a class with professor Katherine Benton-Cohen. She explains how politicians and reform groups in the early 20th century attempted to improve social and economic conditions through trust busting, interstate regulation, and Prohibition. We also hear about the policies and campaigns of Theodore Roosevelt, the period's most dominant political figure.

Source:CSPAN- Catherine Benton-Cohen: Professor of History, Georgetown University.

Full lecture here:CSPAN."  

From CSPAN

Just on a personal note first, which is actually very important, because it's why I'm writing this piece: I was watching this lecture on CSPAN last Wednesday night (what can I say: I'm a political history junky, who watches CSPAN) from Georgetown University History Professor Catherine Benton-Cohen and she was talking about the Progressive Era from a hundred plus years ago. And she made some very interesting points that I want to talk about in this piece about Progressive (the real Progressives, as I call them) and progressivism (the real progressivism, as I call it) that I'm going to get into in this piece. 

Professor Cohen talking about people she would call Reformers (the people I call the Progressives) versus Revolutionaries. (People I call Socialists) When you're talking and thinking about these two political factions, you're talking basically talking about the Theodore Roosevelt's of the world and his Progressive Republicans and Progressive Party. Versus the Eugene Debs (Look him up, if you're not familiar and you're interested in Socialists and socialism)  Eugene Debs was a Socialist activist early in the 20th Century, who was also an antiwar activist and pacifist who ran for President multiple times for the Socialist Party back then. 

Professor Cohen was arguing that the Progressives led by Teddy Roosevelt and others (the Reformers) were trying to fix and improve the economic system in America so it could work for more people. Whereas the Socialists led by Gene Debs and others (the Revolutionaries) wanted to tear down the American capitalist system, start over, and create something else, like a socialist state. 

One way and perhaps even a humorous and perhaps insulting way (if you're a Revolutionary) to look at the Reformer vs Revolutionary debate, is to think about a mechanic versus a rioter. The mechanic simply wants to fix what's the wrong with the car or whatever he's working on (or the person could be a she) if he can and perhaps even make the car better. The rioter says the car is no good and therefor needs to be destroyed and be replaced by a completely different car. 

Well, there was a split in the Progressive Era or movement 100 years ago better Reformers and Revolutionaries with the Revolutionaries led by Debbs and others believing that progressivism doesn't go far enough and what the country needs instead is a socialist movement that eventually leads to America becoming a socialist state. Something that Socialists in and outside of the Democratic Party are still fighting for 100 years later. With the Reformers led by TR and others saying that what works well in America, works very well and what we need to do instead is create an America that works for more people, but within the American capitalist system of property rights, private enterprise, and opportunity. 

I've been arguing for the last three ever years ever since I started this blog that Progressives and Socialists aren't the same people with just two different labels. And that progressivism and socialism isn't the same political philosophy isn't the same political philosophy with two different names. That there are real differences in both even if share similar goals. Like a country with no poverty and bigotry. (To use as examples) And in the near future I will write a piece about how Progressives and Socialists are very different and I hope you'll enjoy that as well. 

You can also see this post on WordPress.