The Progressive Era

The progressive Era was times in History were local state and federal government took a leap forward in power and activism. In addition, the progressive era, was a time of development of new reforms and changes for America. Progressivism handles a wide range of problems and struggle for America. Such problems were created by unstructed industrialization, urbanization and immigration. As well as, the unfavorable distribution of power and wealth. Progressives believed strongly that problems such as these needed immediate action. Progressives existed in churches, organized labor, local political life, organizations and progressives of high education. Progressives wanted to make America better through inniatives, arranged action, idealism and social scientific research. Progressive had a tendency to expect the best possible outcome of situations. By, the 1920’s, progressives put in effect, changes of all aspects of society and government. Nevertheless, progressives had unhonorable qualities as well. They were biased of class and prejudiced against races.

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. They believed that the government could be a tool for change. Progressive reform started out as a social movement and later on took a more political stand. 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.

The Progressive Era was a time period between the years 1900-1920 and it marked a time in American history in which society was bursting with enthusiasm to improve life in the industrial age by making political and social changes through government action that ultimately led to a higher quality of life for American citizens. Progressives were known for their beliefs in limiting the power of big business, strengthening the power of the states, and were advocators against corruption and social injustice. These progressive reformers as well as the Federal Government successfully managed to improve the quality of life and establish a precedent for a move active government, although neither was completely successful in solving significant

The progressive movement is a middle class response to take on the problems that was caused by the industrialization in the rapid social change that took place during the civil war. It is a collection of reform movements. The progressive era was when reformers or activists who were working to solve the problems in the American society and the government were trying to end the laissez-faire. The root of progressive started during the glided age. This era started in 1890 and ended in 1920. A solution was needed to eliminate all the problems that was faced over the years. The fight for social justices include social reforms, women’s suffrage movement, and political reforms.

Daniel Zheng APUSH Wells March 4th, 2016 APUSH DBQ: Evaluate the effectiveness of Progressive Era and the federal government in bringing about reforms at the national level… During the period of 1900-1920, which is now also known as the Progressive Era, the United States witnessed many beneficial changes in hopes of improving the American lifestyle hence labelling the era as progressive. Not only did the reformers and the federal government succeed in major changes such as woman suffrage, they also managed to regain control from corporate powers that had formed monopolies during the Gilded Age. Furthermore, with the influx of immigrants through Angel and Ellis islands, the increase of child labor became one of the most prominent issues within large corporations. Precautions for basic sanitary and safety needs were not met hence not

The progressive era from the 1890s to 1900s was the time where changes happened in the government in order to eliminate unfair business practices from big businesses corporations, exploitation of labor, and political corruptions. To begin with, many large businesses were corrupt; resulted in the formations of monopolies and trusts taking obscene amount of money. These businesses worked together to take control of the industry and charged unfair prices due to small quantity of competitions. To balance the economic power of these big businesses, the public demanded the government to take actions; the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in order to “prohibit anti competitive practices and prevent unreasonable concentrations of economic power” (Encyclopedia).

The Progressive Era was a period of social activism and political reform that grew from the 1890s to the 1920s. Social reformers and journalists, like Jane Addams, Jacob Riis, and Ida Tarbell were some of the powerful voices for progressivism. “They concentrated on exposing the evils of corporate greed, combating fear of immigrants, and urging Americans to think hard about what democracy meant.” Many progressive reformers wanted to end corruption in the government, regulate business practices, address health hazards, and improve working conditions. It was also an era of conservationists. Conservationists are people who protect and preserve the environment and wildlife. Throughout the Progressive Era, there were many conservationists who wrote and described nature, but the most well-known figure in conservation was John Muir. John Muir worked to protect Earth’s beauty by traveling and exploring nature, co-founding the Sierra Club, and by influencing others through his writings and by showing some of the most important people how the wildlife was magnificent.

During the Progressive Era, which was known as a large reform movement, there was a widespread across the United States of political reform and social activism. The main focus and goal of the Progressives and their movement was lowering government involvement and eliminating corruption in the government. Progressives reacted to problems caused by large factories and cities. Furthermore, they attacked big corporations, such as the Armour meat-packing company and others, for how harsh their practices were. The progressives exposed these companies and how they treated workers, removed competitors, and set high prices. The meatpacking industry capitalized when the growth of livestock farming in the Midwest started to grow rapidly. Meatpacking companies and industries, such as the Armour meat-packing company, handle the slaughtering, processing, and distribution of animals including cattle and pigs. Although the meatpacking industry created a lot of jobs, working in a meatpacking company was not luxurious because the factories were unsanitary, unregulated, and tremendously dangerous.

There are many ways in which the progressive era saw expansion and restriction of political and economic freedoms. In the progressive era, the economy grew enormously. But because America was changing from a rural society to more of an urban scene, industrialization occurred. As a result, businesses were booming, which jump started the economy. This was the beginning of the uprising of America’s economy during the progressive era. Big business essentially became in control of the economy, and this is where we see those restrictions. Because big businesses were in control of the economy, greed became an epidemic among businesses and corporations which resulted in unfair working conditions and unsteady shifts for the working class. It also created a larger gab between the working class and the business owners in terms of wealth. However, this did not last long as reform came. These victories helped shape the expansion of the economy of the progressive era, which included a minimum wage, predictable 8-hour work shifts, and better working conditions. The economy thrived in which more people sought jobs and retention rates in jobs rose due to the better working conditions.

The big things exposed were the horrors of poverty, slums, dangerous working conditions, and child labor to name but a few. Therefore, in 1906 Roosevelt enacted the Meat Inspection Act which is now known as the Food and Drug Administration. The Progressive era also included workers’ safety and health but meatpacking plant. He felt that he had the public’s best interest at heart. Roosevelt also did not approve of Congressmen for being more interested in themselves instead of the people they were serving. This is when the term “muck-racker” came into play. With modern terminology today the muck-rackers are known as whistle blowers. The muck-rackers exposed the dark side of society. The big things exposed were the horrors of poverty, slums, dangerous working conditions, and child labor to name but a few. Therefore, in 1906 Roosevelt enacted the Meat Inspection Act which is now known as the Food and Drug Administration. The Progressive era also included workers’ safety and health but only after a deadly fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company on March 25, 1911. The company did not trust its workers. The doors and elevators were all locked except for the eighth floor. The workers were all located on the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors. The factory was largely a female work force. “Workers on the eighth and tenth floors were able to escape unharmed, but those on the ninth floor were not so lucky” (Mangus, lecture).

The Progressive Era was a term used to describe a time period that had numerous reforms to correct the problems of the country. The origins of this time period was created from the lower class aiming to, “eliminate corruption in government, regulate business practices, address health hazards, and improve working conditions.” Not only did the lower class support reform, but middle class workers too because they were in competition with immigrants for jobs or they were women struggling for the same rights that men had. Another reform Progressives wanted was the right to a direct say in the primaries of elections so the public had more control within government. With more control in the government, this would allow the power of big corporation to be limited and prevent future problems that the middle and lower classes could endure. These goals the reformers had in the Progressive Era, led to a plethora of movements and actions in

The Progressive Era turned into an unprecedented time of social activism and political development amid which convincing open issues constrained significant changes in the part of government and presidential authority. The goals of the Progressives were to “attack corrupt political bosses and irresponsible corporate barons” (Shi and Tindall 937). Progressives wanted the government to be honest, efficient, to regulate businesses, and for the low-income workers to have a better way of life. “Millions of “progressives” believed that America was experiencing a “crisis of democracy” because of the urban-industrial revolution” (Shi and Tindall 937). Poverty created the initiative for churches, charitable organizations, experts, and individuals to stand up and take action due to the unsafe working conditions of children working in mines and factories. The actions to progressively create labor laws expand beyond the role of the government because someone had to take control. Amos Pinchot, a progressive attorney and reformer said, “Corruption was destroying our respect for government, uprooting faith in political parties, and causing every precedent and convention of the old order to strain at its moorings” (Shi and Tindall 937). This was due partly because of the Progressives arguing over the rapid changes that occurred in United States (US) since the end of the Civil war. One example was the gap between the rich and the poor kept increasing.

"A great democracy has got to be progressive or it will soon cease to be great or a democracy." ( ). The Progressive Era consisted of reformers demanding the government to clean up society. Entering office in 1904, Theodore Roosevelt was an individual in the republican Party, but as the country began to spin out of control Roosevelt joined the new Progressive Party and saved the country from a disastrous ending (685). Reformers set out to cleanse the country go its wrong doings. The progressivism agenda included: an active government to right political, economic and social wrongs (685). The activist only wanted the governments intervention for a short period of time then let the country run without government after things were back too

The Progressive Era was a social and political movement in the early 1900s that “focused on improving conditions in daily life (history alive textbook). Alice Paul, Theodore Roosevelt, Upton Sinclair, and Mother Jones all spent a great deal of their lives working to improve daily life for all Americans - not just the white, wealthy, and educated.

The Progressive Era was a time period of reform. With the industrial and urban boom, Economical, Social, Political, and Environmental corruptions became very prominent. Soon enough, people gathered together for change, a time for progression. These people became Progressives, and eventually, Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and Woodrow Wilson became the face of the Progressive Era. The Presidents all had their different Ideals, but they all pushed for the same goal, the progression of the United States.