A Progressive Era Of The United States Of America Essay

(Fisher 2013:5) ‘The years from 0-7 are a period of human development with the capacity to learn.’ This quote links into this assignment as it shows how important the first couple of years in a child’s life can affect them the throughout their life. It shows how important it is to have the pioneers input into the practice and teaching of children as its important they have the best start in life to help them develop.

The Progressive Era was a period that changed America greatly due to political reforms and social activism. This era brought forth many changes in America and almost all Americans were involved in this movement somehow. This period began in the late 1800s and lasted until the mid-1900s. The Progressive Era was one of the biggest movements in America. The main point of this movement was to purify the government. Several historians have wrote excerpts on their perspective of the Progressive Era. George Mowry, Joseph Huthmacher, and Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore are three key Progressive historians. In their writings, each of the historians explain who the Progressives were, who was affected during this time, events that took place in the community and government, and other topics.

Taking place in the United States between the 1890s and the 1920s, the Progressive Era was a period characterized by political reform and social activism. Due to the popularity of the Progressive ideals during this time period, American citizens elected for president candidates, such as Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, who subscribed to these ideals. Of the three Progressive presidents, Wilson was the most effective when it came to addressing the major issues of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as many reforms were enacted during his presidency, including reforms related to his “New Freedom” program, despite the controversy surrounding the majority of these reforms.

During the late 19th and early 20th, there were many problems caused by the rapid urbanization and industrialization. In response, a group of individuals came together and their goal was to reform the United States. During this era people were dealing with problems such as poverty, the breakdown of democratic government, and the exploitation of labor. In addition, very limited group of people owned the majority of wealth of this country. This individuals were trying to reduce the long working hours, and as Zinn says: bring a remedy to changes that the industrialization was causing.(Zinn 354)

The role and responsibilities of the federal government changed drastically during the Progressive Era and the New Deal. Rapid changes after the Civil War brought on a need for economic, social and political reforms. Before the Progressive Era and the New Deal, the federal government took a very hands-off approach and had little involvement in, and little care for the welfare of the American people. With the Progressive Era and the New Deal, the federal government became more involved and responsive to the public and implemented many revisions and reforms. The Progressive Era was a time of political and economic transformation. The role and responsibilities of the federal government evolved. Reform was necessary because of the changes that

Where did some of modern America's issues originate from? The answer to that is the Progressive Era. The Legislation of that era laid all of the groundwork for today, and much of it is still in public debate today. Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, three of the presidents from that era, all played roles in the groundwork. These presidents passed acts, tariffs, and amendments that are still with us, and debated today.

Working only to die or lose a limb, being a woman with no voice, and dealing with unsanitary meat and food has never been the ideal lifestyle. “The Progressive Era was a period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States from 1890 to the 1920’s. The main objectives of the progressive movement were eliminating problems caused by industrialization, urbanization,immigration and corruption in government” (Progressive Era). Yet people in the Progressive Era fought to change abuses with things like working conditions by going on strike or forming groups like labor unions, the 19th amendment to help women in America have the right to vote,and things like the pure food and drug act and the meat inspection act to protect the consumers. People went on strike meaning they stopped going to work to change the work conditions. They felt if there was no workers there was no factories,they wanted better conditions and going on strike was the start to this. Women also went on strike they protested until the Nineteenth Amendment was passed. Lastly 2 food acts were passed to protect the consumers from the meat that was causing illness and death. Despite previous arguments the progressive era was no joke nothing about it was okay until the people were able to get reform laws changed.

The progressive era was a time period in America after reconstruction that took place from 1900 to 1920. The progressive era focused mainly on social and political reform, trying to fix America's economy by working towards equal conditions for individuals, stopping political corruption and increasing government intervention on social and economic issues. Progressivists were social activists and political reformers working to improve conditions and the treatment of the American people. The progressive era was successful in the fight to reform the United States by improving industrialization, urbanization cities, and reforming America's social and gender classes.

From 1900-1920 in the United States of America the reformers of the Progressive Era and the Federal Government were effective bringing about reform dealing with reforms to improve the social disgrace of the working conditions, the enthusiasm to be a nation of self-governed people, and the individual interests of presidents despite limitations in the rulings of court cases, the application of reforms reached, and the varying effectiveness of presidents.

Slavery in the United States of America started with the arrival of the first slaves from Africa in 1619. Slavery continued even after it was abolished; it greatly influenced the events in the country. From the very beginning, anti-slavery movement and slave resistance played a big role in the efforts to uphold the values of the new, rising nation and its belief that all men are equal. Advocates for the anti-slavery movement were not united from the start; some supported gradual emancipation of slaves, others were for immediate and radical abolishment, while free-soil activists argued for restriction of slavery to certain areas in order to prevent its spread across the country. Radical abolition movement was part of the reform movements related to religious revivals in an effort to create a righteous society that would fulfill the high ideals of America. These reforms were a response to economic and social changes which historians termed as “the market revolution” and the “transportation revolution”. After the 1812 war, a tremendous development occurred; improved roads improved transport and increased profits among many farm entrepreneurs, artisans, and manufacturers. In the eyes of many religious leaders, America was dominated and obsessed with materialism and greed and they started to question the fundamentals of human life, justice, and sinful motives. Before the 1930s, the anti-slavery movement was not what one would consider well-organized. However, at that time

The Government’s role has changed dramatically in short time frame. The United States has been an independent country for less than three-hundred years and look at all the changes that have occurred in this short time frame. As we see throughout history, we have seen many changes both in the Government and the American people, but most of them came from our presidents in the past. Some of these changes have resulted in better involvement of the people, while some have impacted businesses that we have today. Through all the changes in Government’s role, the most important ones happened in the Progressive Era, into the World Crisis, and into the early stages of the Cold War.

Tycoons of the Progressive Era did not have the safety and protection in mind of the workers who labored to make their garments. The workers were looked down on and had numerous rules and regulations that were unnecessary to the job, and none that were necessary. In 1911, a fire at the Triangle Waist Company broke out that claimed the lives of many women working on the upper floors of the Asch building. Because of this incident, the conditions that these immigrant women and children worked in were exposed, which in turn led to various reform groups coming together to fight for safer conditions in the workplace.

In order for American ideals to survive in an industrialized modern economy, the government must regulate capitalism. As capitalism grew in the Gilded Age, it becomes more of a priority to control business in order protect capitalism, as well as the other American ideals. The government must listen to the people's feedback and improve American democracy, focus on consumer protection and labor rights, and protect competition with between large and local businesses.

Sir Edmund Burke once said “But what is liberty without wisdom and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint.” (Burke). Although this was stated about hundred years before the progressive era, it shows the importance of morals for producing a great society. Creating a good and moral society was an important goal for the Progressives of early 20th century, and they used the law to create such a society. Many of these goals were good and noble, however, these activities increased the size and scope of the government. The progressives goals, although often noble, produced actions that tread the thin line between promoting a better society and creating a nanny state.

The period referred to as the Progressive Era in American history is one which historians often disagree over, and as in all areas of history, there are many theories surrounding the era which sometimes contradict each other. Historians are always aware of prominent theories within the field, and they often participate in an ongoing dialogue concerning their research. One of the first historians to make a major mark regarding the Progressive Era was Richard Hofstadter in his book The Age of Reform, published in 1955. Other prominent works include Peter G. Filene’s “Obituary for the Progressive Movement” , published in 1970, Richard L. McCormick’s “The Discovery that Business Corrupts Politics” ,