The Social Justice Movement Of The 1920 ' S

During the 1920s, the United States witnessed substantial changes in society and government that challenged conventions. Many Americans, however, also tried to lessen the effects of these changes through emphasizing the importance of customs and long held beliefs. This era consisted of conflicting progressive and traditional ideas, which influenced American government at the time.

Dolly Parton once quoted, “If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.” This quote helps understand the impact the Women’s Suffrage Movement makes on the present day. In 1848 the battle for women’s privileges started with the first Women 's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment, which provided full voting rights for women nationally, was ratified in the United States Constitution when Tennessee became the 36th state to approve it (Burkhalter). Freya Johnson Ross and Ceri Goddard stated a quite valid argument in a secondary source Unequal Nation saying, “Since the ratification of the 19th Amendment, major social changes have transformed the lives of women and men in many ways but the United States has not noticed how far away our nation is from the gender equal future” (5). When women were finally granted the right to vote, barriers were broken which would allow an increasing chance to make progressive steps to a more equal nation, but our nation has yet to realize our full potential.

Remember your Ladies” (Revolutionary Changes and Limitations) is what Abigale Adams told to her husband John Adams when he was signing a new federal document. She was one of the earliest woman suffrage activists and her words towards her husband would eventually snowball into one of the most remembered suffrage movements in the history of the United States (Revolutionary Changes and Limitations). The women’s suffrage movement picked up speed in the 1840-1920 when women such as Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt, and Alice Paul came into the spot light. These women spearheaded the women suffrage movement by forming parties, parading, debating, and protesting. The most renowned women suffrage parties that were created during the 1840-1920 was the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), and the National Woman’s Party (NWP). The parties not only had similar names but similar goals: women will one day receive the right to vote. Each party had its own unique agenda of how women will receive the right to vote, the NWSA had Susan B. Anthony’s dedication, the NAWSA had Catt’s “Winning Plan” (Carrie Chapman Catt) and the NWP had Alice Paul’s perseverance to go to extremes by captivating people’s attention. Eventually the goal of the parties was reached when the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified. The Amendment granted women the right to vote, granting them all the same rights that were held by men. Women would have never

The twenties is said to have been a unique era. It was full of constant excitement. It was known as the “Jazz Age”. It was a period where Americans took time to find joy in their new freedoms. The twenties was an age of thrills and success where music, art, and literature flourished and social norms began to change, however this time was actually accentuated by a certain violence and chaos due to conflicting American ideals on issues such as Prohibition, race, and immigration.

From the time of 1890- 1920 was the progressive era. In this time the American people experienced a very rapid industrialization in their major cities, where it grew not only with industrializing but economically as well. In this time we adopted many laws about working conditions that we still have today. For example, the government adopted laws about Jacob Riis and the photos he took, child labor, and women's suffrage movements. In the next few paragraphs I will explain to you why these three subjects are some of the most important things that happened in this time period.

The Progressive movement of the 1900’s was the most important event to occur in the United States during the twentieth century. Progressives at first concentrated on improving the lives of those living in slums and in getting rid of corruption in government. The goal was to make working conditions better for the workers. True reform needed to happen. The workers of America believed this to be the best nation with opportunities for all people. Reform started with industrialization. Workers needed healthy and safe places to work, especially for women and children who were considered vulnerable and weak during that time period. Women and children over 14 worked at meat trimming sausage making and canning. “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair in one

During the decades of the 1920s and 1930s, the United States underwent a series of changes that had a drastic effect on people across the nation. As the economy began to slow to a halt, millions of people were left broke and without jobs. As the country’s farmers were paralyzed with debt, food prices increased radically (McElvaine). During the mid-1930s, a series of droughts coupled with poor agricultural methods led to years of soil erosion and dust storms known as the Dust Bowl, a catastrophe that destroyed farms throughout the Southern Great Plains (Shafer, Low). As a result, many farmers were forced to abandon their land to seek employment elsewhere. These migrant workers, attracted by the fertility and familiarity of the area, traveled to California towns such as Salinas, where they labored tirelessly for wealthy planters (Cayton, Gorn, Williams). The events of the Great Depression Era, following years of difficulty and poverty, paved the way to an entirely new way of life for Americans.

Three ways society changed in the 1920’s are through culture, economy, and social norms like fashion and women's rights. The 1920’s was a time of change. The United States had just won the war and after the war the United States just wanted to “return to normalcy”. But nothing was normal after the war; the 1920s was a time where the United States was at a peak prosperity. But this can be countered with organized gang violence, increased rate of murder, and countless robberies. Even though prosperity in the 1920s can be counter argued. Overall the 1920s was a time of change; a time for a change in culture, for a change in the economy, and for a change in social norms.

During the time period in between the 1890s to the 1920s, also known as the Progressive Era, was a time period that social activism and political reform within the United States flourished. A main goal throughout this era was eradicate corruption in the government by uncovering and undermining political machines and their bosses. This was meant to form a better and more direct democracy. Also, Progressives sought out to regulate monopolistic trust corporations through various antitrust laws, which aimed to promote fair competition for the benefit of the consumer. Although the Progressive Era brought about many reforms and public figures for the greater good of the American people like muckraking journalism, Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, Susan B. Anthony and Jane Addams and significant policy changes, the era, however, did end when America because our nation entered World War 1 and the Great Depression following several years afterwards.

Everybody wants change, whether it is to benefit themselves or it’s to benefit a large population but, how many people can say they are willing to fight for that modification in society or in politics? Many reformers in the Progressive Era had enough bravery to speak out against the social and political injustices that went on among society throughout the 1890's to the 1920’s. But was the movement for change really successful in conducting just that, change? Did America have any improvements due to the reform movements? The Progressive Era had many powerful voices however, the movements were not as victorious as one might think and it had no effect on American politics and society. The movement failed

The progressive era during the 1890’s and 1920’s in the Unites States saw an economic expansion with the aid of the industrial capitalists, a growing population with immigrants coming to the United States seeking a better life through labor with American industrialization, and government corruption being eliminated progressively by political reforms like the Sherman Antitrust Act. This era also had complications such as racial tension between immigrants, poor working and living conditions amongst the American public, society division based on different characteristics such as ethnicity and average working revenue. As the works of Howard Zinn, Thomas C. Leonard, and David Montgomery specify the endeavor America as a society underwent during the Progressive Era. Through the economic expansion during the Progressive Era companies wanted to keep costs down while maintaining profits high with low wages, poor working conditions, and long hours at the expense of immigrants. The underrepresented individuals faced with these problematic issues consisted of blacks, whites, Chinese, Europeans, and female labors. Wages in America during the Progressive Era had been based on race, sex, and social class. Mary Stovall author of the article “The Chicago Defender” further expands on the issue of class favoritism by elaborating in his work how “blacks were charged higher rents than whites for comparable housing” . These problematic matters often caused a heated argument and in some instances

From 1881-1920 the progressive movement was inspired by the populists movement years later. They moved to improve living conditions by using three methods. These methods are to help regulate business, make government more responsible, and social changes. Their main goals were to change the industrialization and urbanization of cities. They found that fundamental change is the perceived function of the federal government. In order to enforce and create these goals they had economic, social, and political reforms to show the importance of this movement and the extension of reformers’ ideas and their programs from 1880-1920.

The Progressive Era in America lasted from the 1890’s to the 1920’s. During this time, The United States underwent several changed, or reforms. These reforms helped to shape our nation into what it is today. There are 10 reforms I’m going to discuss in this essay including the reforms on civil rights, conservation, government reform, health and medicine, labor reform, radical trade unionism, socialism, temperance, trust busting, and women’s rights.

The Progressive Era was a time period that ran from the 1890’s through the 1920’s. It started as a social movement but turned into a political movement. Progressivism really gained a strong voice in 1901 with the election of Teddy Roosevelt as President. He believed that strong corporations were good for America, but believed they should be watched and monitored so that corporate greed did not get out of hand. The main goal of Progressivism was to eliminate corruption in the government.

The 1920’s was a great and important decade for the United States. After World War I, the United States went through events and changes that, overall, made the United States a much better place to live. New advances in technology and industry improved American life in more ways than just one. Americans had better wages during this time, more leisure time, and overall, had a better life than ever before. In addition, the 1920’s advocated social and cultural change as well. During this time period, the United States did not return to Normalcy, and instead developed attitudes that changed the life of the people of the United States forever thanks to social changes, cultural changes and changes in technology.