Sociologist Barry Schwartz argues that Lincoln's American reputation grew slowly from the late 19th century until the Progressive Era (1900–1920s), when he emerged as one of America's most venerated heroes, even among white Southerners.
sˌoʊsɪˈɑːlədʒˌɪst bˈæɹi ʃwˈɔːɹts ˈɑːɹɡjuːz ðæt lˈɪŋkənz ɐmˈɛɹɪkən ɹˌɛpjuːtˈeɪʃən ɡɹˈuː slˈoʊli fɹʌmðə lˈeɪt nˈaɪntiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi ʌntˈɪl ðə pɹəɡɹˈɛsɪv ˈiəɹə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti z, wˌɛn hiː ɪmˈɜːdʒd æz wˈʌn ʌv ɐmˈɛɹɪkəz mˈoʊst vˈɛnɚɹˌeɪɾᵻd hˈiəɹoʊz, ˈiːvən ɐmˌʌŋ wˈaɪt sˈʌðɚnɚz.