Progressive New World: How Settler Colonialism and Transpacific Exchange Shaped American Reform

Progressive New World examines the transpacific connections that shaped American progressivism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The book focuses on exchanges between Australia, the United States, and other settler colonial societies during this period of social and political reform. Lake traces the movement of ideas, policies, and reform advocates between these nations as they grappled with similar challenges of labor rights, women's suffrage, and racial politics. The research draws from correspondence between key figures, government documents, and press coverage from multiple continents to reconstruct these networks of influence. The narrative follows several prominent reformers and intellectuals as they traveled between Australia and America, sharing strategies and shaping each other's approaches to democracy, race, and social progress. Their efforts to build "white men's countries" through immigration restrictions and other policies had lasting impacts on both nations. This transnational perspective reveals how settler colonialism and white supremacy were fundamental to progressive reform movements, challenging conventional narratives about this era. The book demonstrates the deep connections between racial thinking and social progress in the development of modern liberal democracies.

Readers value the book's examination of how American progressivism intersected with white settler colonialism and racial ideologies across the Pacific. Several reviewers note that Lake makes meaningful connections between Australian and American reform movements. Positive comments focus on: - Detailed archival research and documentation - Fresh perspective on transnational progressive era links - Clear writing style that makes complex topics accessible Critical comments mention: - Some repetitive sections - Limited discussion of indigenous peoples' perspectives - Focus sometimes wanders from core thesis Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (13 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (2 ratings) One academic reviewer on H-Net praised Lake's "compelling evidence for how white settler colonialism shaped progressive reform." A Goodreads reviewer noted the book "fills an important gap in progressive era scholarship" but "could have better integrated Native American experiences." Limited total reviews available online as this is a recent academic press book.

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Progressivism and the World of Reform by Daniel Rodgers Traces the networks of reform ideas and social movements between the United States, Europe, and colonial territories in the early 20th century.

The White Pacific by David Igler Chronicles the interconnections between American imperialism, racial ideologies, and economic exploitation across the Pacific region from 1780-1900.

Race over Empire by Eric T.L. Love Analyzes the relationship between American racial thought and U.S. imperial expansion in the Pacific during the late nineteenth century.

Empire of Care by Catherine Ceniza Choy Maps the migration networks and colonial relationships that shaped nursing education and professionalization between the Philippines and United States.

🌟 Marilyn Lake's scholarship bridges Australian and American history, offering rare insight into how both nations' racial policies influenced each other during the Progressive Era 🌊 The book reveals how white settlers in both the US and Australia viewed themselves as forming new "white men's countries" and actively shared ideas about racial exclusion policies 📚 Progressive reformers like Catherine Helen Spence traveled between Australia and America, spreading concepts about women's suffrage, labor rights, and racial restrictions 🏛️ The work challenges traditional narratives about American Progressivism by showing how it was shaped by transpacific exchanges rather than solely domestic concerns 🌏 Lake demonstrates how immigration restriction policies in Australia (particularly the White Australia Policy) served as a model for American Progressive Era reforms, including the Immigration Act of 1924