Texas Populism and American Liberalism

Abstract

In The People ’ s Revolt: Texas Populists and the Roots of American Liberalism , Gregg Cantrell convincingly links the Populism of the late nineteenth century to the later development of American liberalism. Focusing on Populists ’ advocacy of government intervention, notions of equality, and support for an educated and empowered citizenry, Cantrell argues for the history of the Texas People ’ s Party as a crucial transition point in American political history. Citing everything from Lyndon Johnson ’ s Populist genealogy to Barack Obama ’ s campaign for a national healthcare bill, Cantrell roots liberal princi-ples within the Populists ’ earlier political insurgency. Conscious of the resurgence of the term “ populism ” in reference to contemporary right-wing movements, Cantrell further explains how the word has evolved to reflect a style of politics rather than any coherent ideology or definable political platform. A welcome addition to the literature on Populism and to reform movements more generally, Cantrell ’ s work offers clear insights into the history of Populism. The