America's Forgotten History. Part Three: A Progressive Empire

Book excerpt: "America's Forgotten History" is the story of America seen through libertarian eyes. It aims to be a good story, and one sympathetic to all sides. Part Three of the series, "A Progressive Empire," takes us from the end of the Civil War to the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection. Along the way, as we trace party politics and presidencies, we look at... - Reconstruction and the Freedmen - The Indian Wars in the West - The land grant railroads - The labor and farmer movements - Populism and Progressivism - The Social Gospel and Christian Socialism - Jim Crow laws and Sundown Towns In the climactic final chapter, an America both driven to lead and fearful of being left behind finally joins Europe and Japan in the pursuit of overseas colonies. 1898 would mark the great if largely forgotten turning point when America became a progressive empire.