Analyzing The Historical Context Of The Progressive Movement

Milton Rakove’s “Don’t Make No Waves… Don’t Back No Losers,” takes an in-depth look at Chicago’s political structure and claims that Chicago’s political machine is not only a model example of successful politics, but also despite criticism, the “durability of the machine, it’s efficiency, and its ability to survive and prosper, despite the urban crisis, cannot be challenged,” (Rakove 3). Rakove’s title of the book emphasizes the simplistic nature of the machine’s design. As detailed in the text, in order to be successful and preserve the hierarchy chosen for the machine cannot make waves and the political party backing the machine cannot back any losers.

Isaac Shaw October 9, 2014 Hist 2020 Dr. Paulauskas Paper #1 In the 1890’s, America was starting to experience changes leading to new revelations in the way it functioned in mass communication, mass transportation, and urbanization. In Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City, he brings the seemingly different stories of two men in this time period, one a mass murder, H.H. Holmes and, the other a grand architect, Daniel Burnham to explain how America was changing into a more modern era. First, both Burnham and Holmes used the popularity of urbanization to achieve their individual goals.

Countless factors weighed in on the urbanization of Cincinnati, but not many assessed the Kilgour family and its impact on Cincinnati’s growth. This prominent and esteemed family had three generations of influence, which fostered the treasures of Cincinnati, through its involvement in steamboats railroad, telephones, real estate, and especially the streetcar system. Throughout history, the development of a neighborhood’s character has always come as a consequence of the multifaceted interactions that the neighborhood had. For Oakley, the foremost influence is public transit. Cities are a vehicle for individuals to be expressive, have dreams, and to be successful; yet this can be difficult without a viable public transit option.

The event was composed to bring awareness to the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America. Full of life, bright lights, and exhibits, it classified as one of the most extravagant events in history (Kasson 17). Such infrastructure led to the the “City Beautiful” movement—a term that describes urban planning to improve appearances. The World’s Columbian Exposition juxtaposed Central Park, to which it enhanced and emphasized the city life, “[heightening] the sense of [the] possibility of what a city might be” (Kasson

A Parisian or Viennese citizen in 1800 would have a difficulty recognizing his or her city in 1900 for several factors. The population growth during the time period was growing at an exponential rate. The streets, housing, sewer system, and working conditions were simply getting repulsive. The expansion of the population was growing at a higher rate than the city could grow upward or outward. At this time, there were no amenities such as the parks, clean sewer, and expansive boulevards that would come later.

Differing forms of government size and involvement in public affairs has shaped many eras in America’s history. Expanding the government has usually led to the creation of the programs and specific offices dealing with niche interests or offices targeted at helping specific demographics of citizens. When these programs are used to the benefit the disenfranchised and disadvantaged is when democratic government starts to become a better system for all instead of only benefitting those with power. In the following eras the government of the United States was altered in some manner; Progressivism, The Great Society, and social movements in the 1960s and 70s all impacted the existing ideals held by political leaders and constituents.

Yet severe inequality remained the most visible feature of the urban landscape, and persistent labor strife raised a new question of the urban landscape, combating social inequality.” (“Give me Liberty” Pg.

Jackson most strongly argues that the trolley “had a greater impact on the American city between the Civil War and World War I” than any other invention. Stemming outward from the crowded business districts, trolley tracks opened up a vast suburban ring. Trolleys connected “an area triple the territory of the older walking city.” Along with the trolley, Jackson points to affordable housing as another reason for urbanization in American cities. With a quick trolley ride to urban housing areas, cheaper land than in cities, and the balloon-frame home construction method, American suburbs offered city dwellers a “safe and sanitary environment” in which was preferable over city life.

The late 19th century was a monumental era for the city of Paris. As the city kept growing and increasing in popularity around the globe, the city itself was being modernized from its dated medieval layout. These modernizations had a direct impact on the culture of the city, the lifestyles of its inhabitants, and the prominence of the city across the world. Paris’ inhabitants were as social as ever, and often enjoyed themselves at cafés and bars. This modernization acted as a perfect catalyst to support the surging wave of capitalism across Western Europe.

After the Civil War, our country was battered and beaten, but it rebuilt itself over time and spread its policies, as well as manufacturing practices, throughout our country. Early in the 20th century, members of our nation started to look at some of these practices and policies and began to question their merit and whether they assisted our population or not. Many people were involved in the progressive movement in America from the presidents to a slew of popular authors and photographers. The one thing that they had in common was that they saw problems with how various industries in our nation performed that they knew needed to be fixed. They did not always agree on everything, such as immigration, but they always had the nation’s best interest at heart.

Manchester is described as an ugly city that has no beauty and is so filthy and foul it can turn a good man into a savage[doc 2&5].One person questions if the progress was worth the physical suffering [doc 7]. Document 11 shows a painting from The Graphic of the horrible pollution in Manchester where the peasants live. Even though there were negative reactions there was also positive reactions. Many of the nobles agreed that the working conditions improved over the years[doc 10]. Some however, agreed that it should not matter how working conditions are because the peasants have always lived terrible lives[doc 3].Others who do not agree with the others agreed that Manchester was truly beautiful because of the tremendous growth of industry[doc 9].

Lastly, Vrabel asserts that Boston’s mayors “cultivated ethnic and class conflicts” (6), which undermined development in Boston. Ultimately, these factors spurred Bostonians to action to change Boston. On November 8, 1949, Boston elected a new mayor, John Hynes. He saw the damage the previous mayor had done in alienating businesses from settling in Boston and worked for change. Hynes did so by “streamlining city government and reducing the waste and corruption” (8).

1. Case Study: Lowell National Historic Park, Lowell, MA Lowell, Massachusetts, a little modern city established 30 miles northwest of Boston in 1826, is an illustration of the complete redevelopment of the urban mechanical center of a factory town to private use, however with an accentuation on modern legacy tourism and training. In the late 1970s, a gathering of Lowell occupants battled to protect their declining city's history after a string of urban replenishment undertakings destroyed plant structures and column houses. An examination stipend, subsidized by Dr. Patrick J. Morgan, Lowell's Superintendent of Schools, found that Lowell was the country's initially arranged modern group and the first city where extensive manufactures of materials happened on a substantial scale.

Change takes places everywhere, everyday. If we as humans experience change on a daily basis, it should be no surprise that even “The Land of the Free” must eventually evolve. A Fierce Discontent by Yale alumni Indiana University historian and Michael McGerr documents this change that spread throughout America, which is known as the Progressive Movement. Michael McGerr believed that “the people and struggles of that age of “fierce discontent” a century ago still command our attention” (McGerr, xiii), which sheds a little light as to why he chose to write about the Progressive Era. It was social and political reform and activism that made up the Progressive Era and

In each of these case studies she investigates several urban projects. For example, in the New York chapter, she analyzes three development projects of Battery Park and Yankee Stadium mostly by considering the contribution of these projects to affordable housing and provision of inclusive public space. She then concludes that New York is diverse, but its policy and planning has led to inequity and a lack of democracy. This problem city is contrasted in her book by framing Amsterdam,as a Utopia where where her criteria of a just city are all met. When reading these chapters it can be inferred that Fainstein believes if a city has a egalitarian political culture, adequate welfare for all, and inhabitants can live in harmony and tolerance that the city will be just and successful.