Liberalism’s Decline during and after the Great War, 1914–1924

The second decade of the twentieth century opened with tremendous hope and enthusiasm for liberal Americans. However, by the close of the decade, Progressivism appeared to be dead, as the United States turned sharply to the right and the always tenuous alliance between liberals of somewhat difffferent orientations fractured under the weight of war and inconsistent policy goals. As if mirroring the divisions among liberals, the friendship between Mary Field and Clarence Darrow experienced its greatest tensions and almost came to an end. Mary experienced a very stressful few years beginning in 1912. In addition to Darrow’s bribery trial, her