Reactionary

Reactionary (or reactionist) is a political epithet typically applied to extreme ideological conservatism, especially that which wishes to return to a real or imagined old order of things, and which is willing to use coercive means to do so. The term is primarily used as a term of opprobrium (groups rarely identify themselves as reactionary), meant to assert the idea that the opposition is based in merely reflexive politics rather than responsive and informed views.

American reaction

Since there never existed an American version of the absolutist monarchies in Europe, it is difficult to define the term "reactionary" in the context of the 18th century in America. One possible interpretation is that the first "reactionaries" in American history were the Tories or Loyalists who supported King George III and the British Crown, while the "revolutionaries" were the Founding Fathers. As with any revolution, the American Revolution consisted of "revolutionary" insurgents fighting against "reactionary" loyalists of the old regime. However, it may be argued that many leading American revolutionaries were far less radical in their views than their European counterparts, and that therefore, by European standards, the Founding Fathers might be leaning more towards being conservative than "revolutionary".

Related Topics:
Loyalists - George III - British Crown - Founding Fathers - American Revolution

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Some scholars note that, while the U.S. Constitution might be seen as conservative in contrast to the rhetoric of the earlier Declaration of Independence (drawn up by Thomas Jefferson) with its grand abstractions about 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness', the Constitution was in the Burkean, not the reactionary mode of conservatism. Thus, it preserved the United States both from the radical decentralization proposed by Anti-Federalists as well as the more extreme conservative vision of those who, like Alexander Hamilton, hoped for a stronger executive and central government.

Related Topics:
U.S. Constitution - Declaration of Independence - Thomas Jefferson - Anti-Federalists - Alexander Hamilton

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From the democratic forces, the Founding Fathers of the United States "represented the crest of reactionary movement of their own day." (4) They sought to balance the demands of the democratic elements with the keeping of the Senate, modelled on the House of Lords to, as in the words of Woodrow Wilson, "to check the sweep and power of popular majorities". (5)

Related Topics:
Founding Fathers of the United States - Senate - House of Lords - Woodrow Wilson

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In later American history, many have argued that the Confederacy was inherently reactionary in its desire to prevent economic industrialization. Others see it as a conservative effort to adhere to their interpretation of the original Constitutional norms. In either case, the American South has produced figures and movements that seem reactionary in retrospect. Among these are the literary and cultural critics known collectively as the Southern Agrarians along with their sympathizers. The most reactionary of these was perhaps Donald Davidson, who adhered to his agrarian beliefs long after many of the other members of the original group had ceased to embrace much of their original agenda.

Related Topics:
Confederacy - Industrialization - Constitutional - American South - Southern Agrarians - Donald Davidson - Agrarian

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After the publication of the so-called agrarian manifesto, I'll Take My Stand, in 1930, many of the contributors to that book published in the periodical The American Review. Published and edited by the fascist Seward Collins, The American Review served as a vehicle for further examination of agrarian and anti-modern proposals, including the distributism of G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc.

Related Topics:
I'll Take My Stand - 1930 - The American Review - Fascist - Seward Collins - Agrarian - Anti-modern - Distributism - G.K. Chesterton - Hilaire Belloc

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During the same period, other areas of America saw the rise of reactionary spokesmen. Father Charles Coughlin of Detroit won over a huge audience with his radio broadcasts, which were notable for their harsh criticism of the New Deal and their anti-Semitic charges against Jewish bankers and their socialist and communist tendencies. Herbert Hoover was constantly attacked by his critics for his resistance to the New Deal. He said, "If it be reactionary to be for free men then I shall be proud of that title for my remaining days" for his philosophy was "True American Liberalism utterly denies the whole creed of socialism". (6)

Related Topics:
America - Charles Coughlin - Detroit - New Deal - Anti-Semitic - Jew - Socialist - Communist - Herbert Hoover

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The reactionary is considered to be the antithesis to the radical, though dramatically reversive change can itself be considered radical.

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A modern American reactionary group is the John Birch Society.

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