Progressive environmentalism blunted the force of Anglo-Saxon racial nativism

Evidence

Furthermore, the premises of progressive thought, as well as its optimistic spirit, blunted the force of Anglo-Saxon nativism. By renewing faith in democracy, progressivism tended to challenge belief in racial inequalities. By concentrating on environmental reconstruction, it implicitly disputed all racial determinisms. At a time when politicians, public, and intelligentsia, alike, quickened with a vision of intelligence recasting environment, the Anglo- Saxon tradition faced powerful opposing currents. If nativistic intellectuals were to capitalize on the race consciousness left in the wake of imperialism, they would have to breast the mainstream of progressive thought. — John Higham, Strangers in the Land, 884

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Anti-European nativism recycled emotions first aimed at nonwhite groups — John Higham, Strangers in the Land: Patterns of…, 763; Darwinism prepared but did not directly cause racial nativism — John Higham, Strangers in the Land: Patterns of…, 787; Racial nativism stayed regionally weak where progressive environmental optimism prevailed. — John Higham, Strangers in the Land: Patterns of…, 1037 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Racial nativism stayed regionally weak where progressive environmental optimism prevailed. #corroborates (0.95) — John Higham, Strangers in the Land, 1037