The Progressive Era Of Social And Political Reform

As the Gilded Age was ending, and the Progressive Era was emerging, most American families had to live with the harsh realities of sweatshops, slums, child labor, corruption in government and businesses, disease, and racial prejudice. People started to realize that change and reform were needed, that was when muckrakers came in trying to expose and show citizens the corruption in government and business, and also the terrible conditions of the working class Americans. Soon after the muckrakers published numerous articles, books, and photographs, people demanded change. Through individual and group actions, they were able to achieve this and get policies and programs enacted.

The progressive era was a time period during 1890-1913 when the United States was at the tip of changing its lifestyle to something better for everyone, especially the poor. During the 1920s, 105 million immigrants had come to the United States hoping for a better lifestyle, however that brought a drastic change in the demand of products needed in the US, which led businesses to focus on the quantity, rather than the quality. Although this urbanization brought industrialization, most of those immigrants were disgusted by the kind of lifestyle they lived which Muckrakers helped improve. Muckrakers, a term used to call those people who bring awareness to the corruption in our society during that time period and were often journalists. This name

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 1900’s were a time of widespread social and political unrest in America. During this time, many Americans adopted new ideas which were completely different than previous traditional values. These new views were considered more modern and progressive. Some of these values were accepting diverse cultures, city lives, bigger communities, individuality, becoming wealthy, and throwing out the old and replacing it with the new. Not everyone supported the ideas of the Progressive Movement, however. Those who opposed the new ways of thinking were known as the Anti-Progressives. Anti-Progressives preferred traditional, rural lifestyles, and a slower, simpler way of living. The Anti-Progressives were also against immigration and integration. They held on to racist beliefs. The differences led to constant tension between the Progressives and the Anti-Progressives. The tensions between the two ideologies were reflected in American drama, political cartoons and silent films of that era.

The muckrakers were reporters, authors, and critics who sought to expose the evils and injustices of Gilded Age society, hoping to expose such social ills before they strangled democracy. Writers whose exposes of corruption in business and government aroused public opinion and helped spur Progressive-Era reforms. Theodore Roosevelt popularized the term in a 14 April 1906 speech, in which he compared them to the Man with the Muck-rake in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, who remained so intent on raking the filth at his feet that he failed to look up and behold the celestial crown. Likewise, Roosevelt argued, the muckrakers remained so focused on the evils in society they failed to reaffirm the vision of America's promise. The usage stuck, and henceforth

The drive to reform the working and living conditions of the poor in American cities heralded the advent of the Progressive Era, in which social and political activism and reform aimed to reconcile issues of Reconstruction. Writers like Upton Sinclair described ghastly conditions in American factories. Their stories caught the nation’s attention, and political as well as labor action followed. Progressive politicians such as Theodore Roosevelt aggressively sought to reign in the excesses of monopolies. They viewed monopolies as using unfair leverage to hurt

In the Progressive Era, influential journalists wanted to expose the government and big business of their flaws to American citizens with using factual and proven evidence against them. Muckrakers, who are journalists that seek out the truth of corruption among the government and business leaders, became well known due to how many people were amazed by the revealed injustices and dishonesty in the

The Progressive Era was a thirty year period in which the United States was completely reformed. Actions were taken to improve working conditions for laborers, create a sexually unbiased work system and regulate the economy. President Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson both helped create a more direct democracy in which the people would have a voice. During those thirty years, amendments 16 to 19 were ratified to regulate and reform the country. Muckrakers were writers who worked for the printing companies exposed the public to all of the corruption that was occurring both openly and behind closed doors. By exposing the public to the corruption, American society was enlightened and inspired to reform itself.

The Progressive movement was based mainly on the improvement of human nature and businesses were treating many workers badly. Many muckrakers worked to end the terrible conditions that many workers

In the beginning of the twentieth century, the economy was booming, new technology flourished. The rapid industrialization brought achievement to the United States, however, it also caused several social problems. Wealth and power were concentrated in the hands of a few, and poverty and political corruption were widespread. As people became aware of these problems, a new reform group was created. Unlike populism, which had been a group of farmers grown desperate as the economy submerged into depression, the new reform movement arose from the educated middle class. These people were known as the progressives. The Progressive Movement was a movement that aimed at solving political, economic, and social problems. The Progressives were people

The history of the muckraker’s started when a group of reporters and Journalist uncover and reveal unformal and discrimination of wrong doing so serious that it made the peoples blood over flow,1902 started the strike of Lincoln Steffens that was published in the McClure’s Magazine call “Tweed Days in ST. Louis”. Steffens uncover how city officials work in large business to keep their contract and power, taken money from the public treasure, while other article began to emerge, so Steffens wrote a book call “The Shame of the Cities”. The Muckraker’s came up with the truth fact about the Socio – economic, and political problem that was happen in American. There were many changes far as social and politics across the board from the19th century to the start of the 20th century raising the public opinion by the way of sickness that were brought on by industrial revolution for examples; the arrangement between large organization, political machines, and bad working conditions. There were four main muckraker’s who started it all, Ida Tarbell, Thomas Lawson, Ray Stannard and Steffens. The Muckraker’s was famous about doing wrong and telling on very important people in the society, they were call dirt and grime because they would stool to their lowest about political corruption, business, and government problem, they also put an end to advertising by boycotting, while the magazines fell into

Stretching from the 1900s to 1920s, the Progressive Era was characterized by a profusion of public activism. Change was becoming something that shouldn’t be left aside. Many advocates for change managed to make some sort of impact; they established kindergartens, settlement houses, public health associations, and missions to "heathens" at home and abroad. These Progressives fought to expand the meaning of citizenship and to establish institutions to educate and uplift the less fortunate (The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History). But one may ask “Were these changes as big of a deal as they were thought to be? Can these so called impacts be seen in the 21rst century?” Since the end of the progressive era all the changes all the reformations and rights workers gained can still be seen and enjoyed.

Muckrakers - the name given to writers during the Progressive Age who investigated and reported on and exposed corruption, abuse of power, and injustices. They were very influential writers who wanted attention from Congress to remedy the issues they wrote about. They provided accurate details. Because of muckraking Acts and laws were passed to help the people. Ida Turbell,Jacob Riis, and Upton Sinclair are known for being muckrakers. Muckraking ended between the years 1910 and

Before World War I, the term "muckraker" was used to refer in a general sense to a writer who investigates and publishes truthful reports to perform an auditing or watchdog function. In contemporary use, the term describes either a journalist who writes in the adversarial or alternative tradition, or a non-journalist whose purpose in publication is to advocate reform and change.[3] Investigative journalists view the muckrakers as early influences and a continuation of watchdog journalism.

The muckrakers were always finding things that weren't done right to always get the worse out of the people they reported on. Just like Progressive social reforms work to address the poor. Progressive shared common was a belief that industrialization and urbanization had created troubling social and political problems. Not only just about the poor but about the Settlement houses as well were a big concern. The rapid growth generated a profusion of problems for city dwellers. These were the main to concern at the times.