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Fighting Over the Red, White, and Blue: The Industrial Workers of the World and Americanism in the Progressive Era

Ward, Scott
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1319134411

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, History.
Melvyn Dubofsky’s We Shall Be All (1969) established the standard narrative of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), long considered to be the United States’ most radical union. Dubofsky confirmed that reputation, arguing that the Wobblies were anarcho-syndicalists, committed to the utter transformation of the American political economy through mass action. Succeeding historical treatments of the IWW have complicated the story by emphasizing specific cultural and geographic features of the Wobblies. But, Dubofsky’s characterization of the IWW has not been overturned. This thesis seeks to establish the identity of the IWW within Progressive Era discourses of Americanism. I argue that the IWW sought to place themselves in an American radical tradition that stretched back through the abolitionists and all the way to the Spirit of ’76. Wobbly Americanism discourse was central to the union’s ideology, rather than merely a defense against charges of “anti-Americanism.” Viewed in this light, the IWW represents a bridge, rather than a break, between the Knights of Labor and the CIO in American labor radicalism.
Kevin Boyle, Dr. (Advisor)
William Childs, Dr. (Committee Member)
Paula Baker, Dr. (Committee Member)
69 p.
American History
IWW; Industrial Workers of the World; Wobblies; Americanism; Progressivism

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ward, S. (2011). Fighting Over the Red, White, and Blue: The Industrial Workers of the World and Americanism in the Progressive Era [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1319134411

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ward, Scott. Fighting Over the Red, White, and Blue: The Industrial Workers of the World and Americanism in the Progressive Era. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1319134411.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ward, Scott. "Fighting Over the Red, White, and Blue: The Industrial Workers of the World and Americanism in the Progressive Era." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1319134411

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.