List of American liberals

Last updated

American liberals are proponents of Modern liberalism in the United States. This ideology combines ideas of civil liberty and equality with support for social justice and a mixed economy. According to Ian Adams, all major American parties are "liberal and always have been. Essentially they espouse classical liberalism, that is a form of democratized Whig constitutionalism plus the free market. The point of difference comes with the influence of social liberalism". [1]

Contents

Economically, modern liberalism opposes cuts to the social safety net and supports a role for government in reducing inequality, providing education, ensuring access to healthcare, regulating economic activity and protecting the natural environment. [2] This form of liberalism took shape in the 20th century United States as the franchise and other civil rights were extended to a larger class of citizens. Major examples include Theodore Roosevelt's Square Deal and New Nationalism, Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom, Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, Harry S. Truman's Fair Deal, John F. Kennedy's New Frontier and Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society.

In the first half of the 20th century, both major American parties had a conservative and a liberal wing. The conservative Northern Republicans and Southern Democrats formed the conservative coalition which dominated the Congress in the pre-Civil Rights era. As the Democrats under President Johnson began to support civil rights, the formerly Solid South, meaning solidly Democratic, became solidly Republican, except in districts with a large number of African-American voters. Since the 1960s, the Democratic Party has been considered liberal and the Republican Party has been considered conservative. As a group, liberals are referred to as the left and conservatives as the right. Starting in the 21st century, there has also been a sharp division between liberals who tend to live in denser, more heterogeneous communities and conservatives who tend to live in less dense, more homogeneous communities. [3] [4]

Politicians

Intellectuals

Jurists and the law

Writers, activists and commentators

Religious leaders

Blogs

Magazines and publications

Think tanks

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1948 United States presidential election</span> 41st quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1948 United States presidential election was the 41st quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 1948. In one of the greatest election upsets in American history, incumbent Democratic President Harry S. Truman defeated heavily favored Republican New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, and third-party candidates, becoming the third president to succeed to the presidency upon his predecessor's death and be elected to a full term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 United States presidential election</span> 45th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1964 United States presidential election was the 45th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 3, 1964. Incumbent Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson defeated Republican Senator Barry Goldwater in a landslide victory. Johnson was the fourth and most recent vice president to succeed the presidency following the death of his predecessor and win a full term in his own right. Johnson won the largest share of the popular vote for the Democratic Party in history, 61.1%, and the highest for any candidate since the advent of widespread popular elections in 1824.

The New Deal coalition was an American political coalition that supported the Democratic Party beginning in 1932. The coalition is named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs, and the follow-up Democratic presidents. It was composed of voting blocs who supported them. The coalition included labor unions, blue-collar workers, big city machines, racial and religious minorities, white Southerners, and intellectuals. Besides voters the coalition included powerful interest groups: Democratic Party organizations in most states, city machines, labor unions, some third parties, universities, and foundations. It was largely opposed by the Republican Party, the business community, and rich Protestants. In creating his coalition, Roosevelt was at first eager to include liberal Republicans and some radical third parties, even if it meant downplaying the "Democratic" name. By the 1940s, the Republican and third-party allies had mostly been defeated. In 1948, the Democratic Party stood alone and survived the splits that created two splinter parties.

American electoral politics have been dominated by successive pairs of major political parties since shortly after the founding of the republic of the United States. Since the 1850s, the two largest political parties have been the Democratic Party and the Republican Party—which together have won every United States presidential election since 1852 and controlled the United States Congress since at least 1856. Despite keeping the same names, the two parties have evolved in terms of ideologies, positions, and support bases over their long lifespans, in response to social, cultural, and economic developments—the Democratic Party being the left-of-center party since the time of the New Deal, and the Republican Party now being the right-of-center party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberal Republican Party (United States)</span> Political party in the United States

The Liberal Republican Party was an American political party that was organized in May 1872 to oppose the reelection of President Ulysses S. Grant and his Radical Republican supporters in the presidential election of 1872. The party emerged in Missouri under the leadership of Senator Carl Schurz and soon attracted other opponents of Grant; Liberal Republicans decried the scandals of the Grant administration and sought civil service reform. The party opposed Grant's Reconstruction policies, particularly the Enforcement Acts that destroyed the Ku Klux Klan. It lost in a landslide, and disappeared from the national stage after the 1872 election.

In politics of the United States, party switching is any change in party affiliation of a partisan public figure, usually one who holds an elected office. Use of the term "party switch" can also connote a transfer of holding power in an elected governmental body from one party to another.

In American politics, a conservative Democrat is a member of the Democratic Party with more conservative views than most Democrats. Traditionally, conservative Democrats have been elected to office from the Southern states, rural areas, the Rust Belt, and the Midwest. In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that 14% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters identify as conservative or very conservative, 38% identify as moderate, and 47% identify as liberal or very liberal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Democratic Party (United States)</span>

The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties of the United States political system and the oldest active political party in the country as well as in the world. The Democratic party was founded in 1828. It is also the oldest active voter-based political party in the world. The party has changed significantly during its nearly two centuries of existence. Once known as the party of the "common man," the early Democratic Party stood for individual rights and state sovereignty, and opposed banks and high tariffs. In the first decades of its existence, from 1832 to the mid-1850s, under Presidents Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and James K. Polk, the Democrats usually bested the opposition Whig Party by narrow margins.

The conservative coalition, founded in 1937, was an unofficial alliance of members of the United States Congress which brought together the conservative wings of the Republican and Democratic parties to oppose President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal. In addition to Roosevelt, the conservative coalition dominated Congress for four presidencies, blocking legislation proposed by Roosevelt and his successors. By 1937, the conservatives were the largest faction in the Republican Party which had opposed the New Deal in some form since 1933. Despite Roosevelt being a Democrat himself, his party did not universally support the New Deal agenda in Congress. Democrats who opposed Roosevelt's policies tended to hold conservative views, and allied with conservative Republicans. These Democrats were mostly located in the South. According to James T. Patterson: "By and large the congressional conservatives agreed in opposing the spread of federal power and bureaucracy, in denouncing deficit spending, in criticizing industrial labor unions, and in excoriating most welfare programs. They sought to 'conserve' an America which they believed to have existed before 1933."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Republican Party (United States)</span> History of the United States Republican Party

The Republican Party, also known as the GOP, is one of the two major political parties in the United States. It is the second-oldest extant political party in the United States after its main political rival, the Democratic Party.

In United States politics, modern liberalism, a form of social liberalism, is one of two current major political ideologies. It combines ideas of civil liberty and equality with support for social justice. Economically, modern liberalism supports government regulation on private industry, opposes corporate monopolies, and supports labor rights. Its fiscal policy opposes any reduction in spending on the social safety net, while simultaneously promoting income-proportional tax reform policies to reduce deficits. It calls for active government involvement in other social and economic matters such as: reducing economic inequality, increasing diversity, expanding access to education and healthcare, regulating economic activity, and environmentalism. Modern liberalism was formed in the 20th century in response to the Great Depression. Major examples of modern liberal policy programs include the New Deal, the Fair Deal, the New Frontier, the Great Society, the Affordable Care Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Liberalism in the United States is based on concepts of unalienable rights of the individual. The fundamental liberal ideals of freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the separation of church and state, the right to due process, and equality before the law are widely accepted as a common foundation of liberalism. It differs from liberalism worldwide because the United States has never had a resident hereditary aristocracy, and avoided much of the class warfare that characterized Europe. According to American philosopher Ian Adams, "all U.S. parties are liberal and always have been. Essentially they espouse classical liberalism, that is a form of democratised Whig constitutionalism plus the free market. The point of difference comes with the influence of social liberalism and the proper role of government."

The Democratic Party of the United States is a big tent party composed of various factions. The liberal faction supports modern liberalism and social liberalism that began with the New Deal in the 1930s and continued with both the New Frontier and Great Society in the 1960s. The moderate faction supports Third Way politics that includes center-left social policies and centrist fiscal policies. The progressive faction supports social democracy and left-wing populism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1916 Republican National Convention</span> Political convention

The 1916 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago from June 7 to June 10. A major goal of the party's bosses at the convention was to heal the bitter split within the party that had occurred in the 1912 presidential campaign. In that year, Theodore Roosevelt bolted the GOP and formed his own political party, the Progressive Party, which contained most of the GOP's liberals. William Howard Taft, the incumbent president, won the nomination of the regular Republican Party. This split in the GOP ranks divided the Republican vote and led to the election of Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

In the United States, black conservatism is a political and social movement rooted in African-American communities that aligns largely with the American conservative movement, including the Christian right. Black conservatism emphasizes social conservatism, traditionalism, patriotism, capitalism and free markets. What characterizes a "black conservative" has changed over time, and proponents do not necessarily share the same political philosophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania</span> Election in Pennsylvania

The 1964 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania took place on November 3, 1964, and was part of the 1964 United States presidential election. Voters chose 29 representatives to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of modern American conservatism</span>

This timeline of modern American conservatism lists important events, developments and occurrences which have significantly affected conservatism in the United States. With the decline of the conservative wing of the Democratic Party after 1960, the movement is most closely associated with the Republican Party (GOP). Economic conservatives favor less government regulation, lower taxes and weaker labor unions while social conservatives focus on moral issues and neoconservatives focus on democracy worldwide. Conservatives generally distrust the United Nations and Europe and apart from the libertarian wing favor a strong military and give enthusiastic support to Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 United States presidential election in Maine</span> Election in Maine

The 1964 United States presidential election in Maine took place on November 3, 1964, as part of the 1964 United States presidential election, which was held throughout all fifty states and D.C. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1944 United States presidential election in North Carolina</span>

The 1944 United States presidential election in North Carolina took place on November 7, 1944, as part of the 1944 United States presidential election. North Carolina voters chose 14 representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radicalism in the United States</span> Historical American ideology

"Radicalism" or "radical liberalism" was a political ideology in the 19th century United States aimed at increasing political and economic equality. The ideology was rooted in a belief in the power of the ordinary man, political equality, and the need to protect civil liberties.

References

  1. Adams, Ian (2001). Political Ideology Today. Manchester University Press. p. 32. ISBN   0719060206. Ideologically, all US parties are liberal and always have been. Essentially they espouse classical liberalism, that is a form of democratized Whig constitutionalism plus the free market. The point of difference comes with the influence of social liberalism.
  2. "The 2016 Democratic Platform". Democratic National Committee. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  3. Graham, David A. (February 2, 2017). "Red State, Blue City". Theatlantic.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  4. "Similarities and differences between urban, suburban and rural communities in America". Pewsocialtrends.org. May 22, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  5. "Fiorello La Guardia: Ultimate American". Rough Diplomacy. 2 December 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  6. "Henry Wallace, America's Forgotten Visionary". February 3, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  7. Labaton, Stephen (January 28, 1996). "Ralph Yarborough Dies at 92; Cast Historic Civil Rights Vote". The New York Times . Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  8. Pearson, Richard (March 3, 1986). "Former Senator Jacob Javits Is Dead at 81". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  9. "Remembering Adam Clayton Powell Jr". The New York Times . November 28, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  10. Perlstein, Rick (May 26, 2011). "America's Forgotten Liberal". The New York Times . Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  11. Cuomo, Mario (March 11, 2001). "The Last Liberal". The New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  12. "Bella Abzug". National Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  13. Osnos, Peter (May 25, 2010). "New York Mayor John Lindsay. Remember Him?". The Atlantic. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  14. Michael Cohen (June 5, 2016). "RFK and the Dems who revere him: 48 years after Robert Kennedy's assassination, we should remember him in all his complexity". New York Daily News . Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  15. "Ted Kennedy on the Issues". Ontheissues.org. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  16. "Cuomo Vetoes Death Penalty Seventh Time". The New York Times . March 21, 1989. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  17. Clines, Francis X. (January 18, 1996). "Barbara Jordan Dies at 59; Her Voice Stirred the Nation". The New York Times . Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  18. "John Lewis: U.S. Representative, Civil Rights Activist". Biography.com. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  19. "Nancy Pelosi". Biography.com. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  20. "Barney Frank". Biography.com. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  21. "Barney Frank On the Issues". Ontheissues.org. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  22. "Senator Bernie Sanders on Democratic Socialism in the United States – Bernie Sanders". Berniesanders.com. November 19, 2015. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  23. Oliphant, J. Baxter (March 9, 2020) "Most Democrats see Bernie Sanders as liberal" Pew Research Center.
  24. "The New York Times got it right when it said, 'Mr. Sanders, who is hugely popular with liberals, ... made blunt overtures to the party faithful by presenting himself as the heir to the politics and ideals of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Dr. Martin Luther King.'", p. 166, "Our Revolution: A Future to Believe in", Bernie Sanders, ISBN   978-1250132925
  25. "Known for his liberal stance, he founded (1991) the Congressional Progressive Caucus. A reliable opponent of Pres. George W. Bush's administration and the Republican Party, he voted against the Iraq War and distinguished himself in particular for his opposition to tax cuts benefiting wealthy individuals and corporations and to cuts in spending for social welfare programs. He was reelected seven times, usually by wide margins. Encyclopædia Britannica online.
  26. "20 Years of Change: Joe Biden on the Violence Against Women Act". Time. 10 September 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  27. Dreier, Peter (26 October 2015). "Paul Wellstone's Ordinary Life and Extraordinary Legacy". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  28. "Is Howard Dean too liberal?". NBC News. August 12, 2004. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  29. "In Memoriam: Henry Steele Commager (1902–98)". American Historical Association. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  30. Kirsch, Adam (October 26, 2011). "The Inner Clamor". The New Republic. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  31. "The 7 Most Liberal Supreme Court Justices in American History". Thoughtco.
  32. "Justice Brandeis and the Birth of Liberal Judicial Activism". Thepublicdiscourse.com. 28 January 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  33. Rich, Spencer (January 20, 1980). "William O. Douglas Dies at 81". The Washington Post . Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  34. "Thurgood Marshall's Unique Supreme Court Legacy". Constitution Daily. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  35. "W.E.B. DuBois on the Value of Liberal Education". Keyreporter.org. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  36. "William Monroe Trotter". Blackpast.org. 23 January 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  37. "A. Philip Randolph". Encyclopedia Britannica . Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  38. "Walter Reuther". AFL-CIO. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  39. "Fannie Lou Hamer: Civil Rights Activist". Mississippi History Now. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  40. "Celebrating Our Presidents". National Organization for Women. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  41. "Harvey Milk" . Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  42. "Women: A Fighting First Lady". Time. Time Magazine. 3 March 1975. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  43. Haslett, Tobi (December 11, 2017). "The Other Susan Sontag". The New Yorker . Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  44. "Gloria Steinem". Biography.com. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  45. "Patricia Ireland". Biography.yourdictionary.com. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  46. Gleiberman, Owen (September 23, 2018) "How Michael Moore Lost His Audience", Variety . Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  47. "Rachel Maddow: American Political Commentator". Encyclopedia Britannica . Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  48. Schulz, Kathryn (April 4, 2017). "The Many Lives of Pauli Murray". The New Yorker . Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  49. "Of course, there is one phase of liberalism that I hope to treasure always: its devotion to the search for truth, its insistence on an open and analytical mind, its refusal to abandon the best light of reason.", Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., p.35, "A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches", HarperOne, ISBN   978-0060646912
  50. "Biographical Notes on Rabbi Lerner". Archived from the original on January 7, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  51. "Black America doesn't lack leaders: Poll shows 24 percent say Sharpton speaks for them". The Grio. March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2018.