Peter Dreier’s list of fifty people who pushed America to be more progressive during the twentieth century was an attempt to highlight the progressive history that has given us things we now take for granted: universal suffrage, a progressive income tax, a federal minimum wage, the EPA, FDA and OSHA, even the weekend.

The full list is available as a slide show, complete with photographs, links to articles from The Nation archive and suggested readings.

There is, of course, much room for dispute about who belongs on the list. We see Dreier’s group as simply a starting point for debate. Please let us know whom we missed. We’ll prominently post reader selections along with additional material about the individuals.  With your help we also hope to begin a list of notable progressives of the twenty-first century.

So check out the list, view the related slide shows and click here to tell us who we missed.