Progressive Era
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Dec 6, 2023
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History 1140 Assignment:
The Progressive Era
The Progressive Era was the most comprehensive reform era in US history. Its impact and legacy
are the source of historical debate to this day. Please read the assigned passages in
Major
Problems in American History Volume II: Since 1865
and answer the questions below. This
assignment is due
Tuesday, October 17.
On that day, you should turn in the written assignment
and
be prepared to discuss the ideas and your observations in a class discussion.
A. Read the introduction to the Progressive Era pp 125-126 to get a better sense of what the
Progressive Era was.
B. Read “WCTU Blasts Drinking and Smoking, and Demands Power to Protect 1883” pp
127-128 and answer questions 1 and 2 below.
1. In your own words, why did the author believe alcohol was so problematic for society? What
are two specific problems that the “drink habit” can cause according to him?
I think the author believed alcohol was very tempting to society, and in a way took away the
man's duties and responsibilities as well as there being corruption in the prohibition. He implies
alcohol ripping the man of his christian purites as a problem, the second problem is he was
saying basically if the man was in temptation and use of alcohol he was not able to properly
protect.
2. Seeing that his objection to alcohol was multifaceted, and at least in part and on the surface,
intended to benefit a portion of the population, are you more inclined to praise reformers like this
for their good intentions or criticize them for their patronizing approach and oversimplified
assessment and solution to the problem? Please explain your answer and refer to information
from the document in support of your position.
I am personally neutral because I can see both sides, for example he is only technically referring
to the christian population and we know the society was more diverse than that, so is he saying
that native, mexican, or black people aren’t seen the same for the same problem of alcohol. I feel
like he should have made his argument to everyone.
C. Read “Black Educator Booker T. Washington Advocates Compromise and Self-Reliance,
1901” and “ NAACP Founder W.E.B. DuBois Denounces Compromise on Negro Education and
Civil Rights, 1903” pp 129-33 and answer questions 3-7 below
3. Please summarize in your own words the solution Booker T Washington proposes to help
advance African-Americans?
Booker T Washington proposes the idea of African Americans “staying loyal” to the plantation
owners in order to stay afloat, still being dependent on them even as freedmen. As well as
basically asking the former slave owners to help the former slaves, in my opinion I think he had
too much faith in the plantation owners and humanity, as we know it was not like this.
4. Who is Washington addressing with his call to “Cast down your bucket where you are?” What
does this phrase mean and why does his think this approach will help African-Americans in your
own words? I believe he is addressing every race to help everyone. This phrase basically means
offering help and sanctuary because you are hypothetically telling someone to bring their bucket
to you so you can “fill it with resources”. I think Booker thought it would create sympathy for
the people in need, but it did not for the most part people were still very unsympathetic even
now.
5. What is W.E. B. DuBois’s main criticism of Washington in this document? Why does he
believe Washington’s approach is flawed? DeBois’s main criticism of Washington is that he
believes Washington is telling the black population to submit to the white population and give up
their rights. He does not agree with this and thinks the African-American population should take
a stand.
6. What goals does he propose African-Americans strive for instead of Washington’s? DeBois
proposes African-Americans strive for the right to suffrage, civic equality, and education of
youth according to ability.
7. Compare DuBois and Washington’s approaches to the empowerment of African-Americans.
DuBois’s critics claimed he was too “militant” and unrealistic while supporters claimed this bold
approach was exactly on point with regards to what would truly benefit African-Americans only
one generation removed from slavery. Washington’s critics claimed his approach was too mild
and too dependent on white America to produce any meaningful results while his supporters
claimed his gradual, methodical and wholistic approach was more thoughtful, realistic and more
likely to achieve ultimate success in the long run. Do you believe one approach is better than the
other? If so, which one and why do you believe so. If not, what do you believe to be the most
important merits of each that balance each other out. Please use information from the documents
for support in your answer.
Yes I believe DeBois’s approach was better, in my opinion it is more realistic in the long run. As
DeBois said in the document, what Booker wants to achieve is not possible without what DeBois
wanted to achieve first like the right to vote or equal education. I also think Booker was to reliant
on the white man, which he should not have been, because as we know, even though there were
some good apples there were more bad ones that wanted to see African-Americans suffer, had no
sympathy for them, and felt resentment towards black people, and Booker was expecting these
same people to help all of the African-American population. Which in my opinion is unrealistic.
D. Please read “Why Women Should Vote (1915)” by Jane Addams at the following link:
https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1915janeadams-vote.asp
and answer the questions 8 and 9 below:
8. List and explain any two arguments that Addams references that have been used to justify the
denial of women’s suffrage in this document?
She references that men saw women as only being useful for “housework” and taking care of the
kids, which was seen as their job. To add, Men thought they could just represent women in
congress instead of actually giving them the power to vote.
9. What are the two most compelling arguments Addams makes to support the extension of the
right to vote to women in this document? How do the two arguments you list address the
objections mentioned in #8 above? Please explain.
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