ABSTRACT
The academics who lost their jobs in waves of zealotry were individual dissenters. The struggle between freedom of academic inquiry and speech and religious fundamentalism died down, a new period of zealotry started over freedom in the social sciences. Administrators in 1870s and 1880s period also rated instructors largely on their moral character, which in turn was seen to depend closely upon religious belief. Faculty applicants were expected to lay bare their religious convictions as a normal part of their credentials, and pious academics rejected candidates not committed to traditional ideology. The ideology of many industrialists early in the Industrial Revolution was unfettered capitalism. They challenged unfettered capitalism by advocating social and political reforms like low tariffs, the inflation of the currency, recognition of labour unions, government regulation of business, and public ownership of basic industries. A special committee of the Board of Regents summoned Professor Ely to justify his views.
