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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Crisis and progress: The rhetoric and ideals of a nineteenth century reformer, George William Curtis (1824-1892)

Abstract

dc:description

"George William Curtis and his fellow reformers were part of the new knowledge elite of journalists, academics, and other professionals that developed in the second half of the nineteenth century. The rise of a national press allowed more pervasive and persistent publicity of reform agendas. Sympathetic editors and journalists, like Curtis, considered their role to be that of sentinels and tribunes of the ""public interest"". In this role, they were instrumental in setting the parameters and defining the terms of debate over government's role in fostering the ""good society"" in America. These reformers disdained theory, particularly that of laissez-faire and limited government, in favor of pragmatism and utilitarianism."

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph.D.
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
History
Grantor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Year dc:date
1993

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Kennedy, Robert Charles
Contributors dc:contributor
  • McColley, Robert

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright 1993 Kennedy, Robert Charles
Language dc:language
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
AAI9411668
(UMI)AAI9411668
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/22673

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Base URL
www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Kennedy, Robert Charles. Crisis and progress: The rhetoric and ideals of a nineteenth century reformer, George William Curtis (1824-1892). Dissertation thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/22673