Radicalism is as American as apple pie. One can scarcely imagine
what American society would look like without the abolitionists,
feminists, socialists, union organizers, civil-rights workers,
gay and lesbian activists, and environmentalists who have fought
stubbornly to breathe life into the promises of freedom and
equality that lie at the heart of American democracy. The first
anthology of its kind, The Radical Reader brings together more
than 200 primary documents in a comprehensive collection of the
writings of America's native radical tradition. Spanning the
time from the colonial period to the twenty-first century, the
documents have been drawn from a wealth of sources—speeches,
manifestos, newspaper editorials, literature, pamphlets, and
private letters. From Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" to Kate
Millett's "Sexual Politics," these are the documents that
sparked, guided, and distilled the most influential movements in
American history. Brief introductory essays by the editors
provide a rich biographical