The Popular, Religious, and Philosophical Roots of American Radicalism

Abstract

and the labor movement which all struggled to improve life inside the American society and make it conform to the democratic principles that were adopted by the American government. The present study argues that American radicalism has historical, religious, and philosophical roots. It also demonstrates that these roots are, at the same time, in the very origins of the American republic and democracy. The historical approach is to be used to trace the different roots of American radicalism and then analyze how these roots intermingled together to allow the shaping of the unique and innovating American radical attitude.