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What Is The Progressive Movement

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The Progressive Era, a period of social activism and political reform in the United States, lasted from the 1890s to the 1920s. Progressivism, the term applied to a variety of responses to the economic and social problems. During the end of the 1800s the U.S. became one of the world’s top industrial producers. The country was moving on to technological advancements, transportation revolutions, wealth creation, and manufacturing efficiency. The U.S. was putting its dark past with the Civil War behind and move on but down the road many Americans where left behind. The amount of poor people in the country grew and as they grew they were creating a new urban underclass, thrust into slums with little hope of improvement. While the poor people were left behind industrial titans amassed great fortunes making the gulf between the “haves” and “have nots” an endless chasm. Afterwards the poor started questioning the titans and the ways they made money exposing corruption in the industries and the government. The people would conduct strikes which would often end in violence. The U.S. was just starting to get ahead, but …show more content…

They tried to hold on to the old concepts of the American way through the changing times around them. The rise of big businesses, the influx of immigrants and the demands for organized labor where obstacles in the progressives’ path. The Progressives where a mixed group that came from different backgrounds and various classes, all inspired by different motives and objectives. But throughout the Gilded Age they had a great influence on the American economy, politics, and society. Progressives helped shape and make America what it is today, the power of the state, economic regulations, distribution wealth, working conditions, free market a capitalism, and the quality of life for industrial

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