Social Activism And Political Reform: The Progressive Movement

As mentioned already the Progressive Era focused on reforms and rights, focusing on capitalism and its monopolistic tendencies, the out-of-control issues that are; disease, poverty, and crime. During the Progressive Era, there were great things

The Progressive movement was a social and political movement that began in the late 1800s and lasted through the early 1900s. Before the Progressive Era, the Industrial Revolution had occurred, creating many new problems for the average person. Because of industrialization, people had started to leave their rural farmlands and move to the newly industrialized cities in hope of finding jobs. Because of lax regulations on growing businesses, monopolies were created the took advantage of their employees. Theodore Roosevelt was one of the leaders of the Progressive movement, focusing on dismantling these monopolies.

The progressive movement was put in place to help restore economic opportunities and correct injustices in America. The four goals of this movement were protecting social welfare, promoting moral improvement, creating economic reform, and fostering efficiency. Protecting social welfare included looking out for those in need and pretty much made sure that anyone struggling was provided with the necessities to help better their lives. Promoting moral improvement involved providing everyone with a positive look on their lives in America. To make this possible America felt it was necessary to implement what was called prohibition.

The Progressive Era was a time of success and decline, as well as equality and corruption. The early 1900s consisted of advancements in technology, societal rights, territory, wealth, etc. However, the United States prided itself on founding a superior society based on its new principles (democracy, liberty, equality). The United States may have developed an industrialized, successful economy but it was constructed through unethical morals that did not obey its original institution. America was not living up to its founding principles due to racism, social hierarchy, and the rise of big businesses.

The book "The Gilded Age and Progressive Era: A Student Companion" by Elisabeth Israels Perry and Karen Manners Smith discusses the historical context and factors that led to the Progressive Era. These included the growth of urbanization and the emergence of a middle class that was concerned with social justice and reform. It was characterized by efforts to address the social, economic, and political problems that had arisen during the Gilded Age. The Progressive Era was marked by a number of significant reforms, including the regulation of business and industry, the expansion of voting rights, and the promotion of social welfare. These reforms were aimed at creating a more just and equitable society, and they laid the groundwork for many of the policies and programs that continue to shape American society

“The Progressive Era was a period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States, from the 1890s to the 1920s”(www.dictionary.com). Mowry, Huthmacher, and Gilmore talk about the social origins of the progressive reform movement in their articles. In these articles it talks about the progressives, how they were defined differently, and what social classes/occupations/ethnic groups did they represent. George Mowry talks about the objectives of the progressive movement in “Progressivism: Middle-Class Disillusionment”. Majority of the reformers came from the “middle class”.

The progressive era was a point in history where there was a widespread of social engagement and political improvement across the United States, from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The main things that happened during the progressive era were removing problems triggered by corruption in government and other things. The Payne- Aldrich Tariff was passed just so the government could make money. The U.S. House of Representatives began a bill rising tariffs on goods entering the United States. Underwood Tariff is like the Payne- Aldrich Tariff; it was passed so the government could make money.

During the progressive era our country faced many problems. The rise of substantial businesses caused industrial problems. Women suffrage, alcohol, child labor, and safety issues caused social problems. The necessitation of citizens in government decisions also caused political problems. Progressives were people who wanted to solve all of these quandaries.

The “Progressive Movement was an early-20th century reform movement seeking to return control of the government to the people, to restore economic opportunity, and to correct injustices in American life.” (Danzer R54). The Progressive Era marked the end of the “Gilded Ages” and a start of a new era. The Progressive Era started in 1901 in the United States (Fagnilli 26). There were many major reforms in the Progressive Era that altered and advanced American society.

The Progressive movement was caused corruption in politics, political machines, rapid urbanization and discrimination and equality. The Progressive movement was based on the idea that the government should have a more active role in solving economic ills. The Progressives wanted to promote child labor laws, improve the efficiency of government, expand democracy and promote social justice. The Progressives believed in progression. As in progression into a fairer society.

The progressive era which lasted from 1890-1920 in American society was the institution of radical reforms brought about by the millions of Americans involved in volunteer organizations across the country. During this time Americans worked to create solutions to the problems caused by the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the country. The progressive era was not a single movement, but rather a collection of movements all of which were intended to improve the lives of Americans. This was a truly remarkable time for women and the end of the era would see almost universal women’s suffrage with the passing of the nineteenth amendment in 1920.

For example, people’s salary was spent on alcohol, led to physical abuse, sickness, and the hatred effects of drinking on families. Alcohol consumption would hurt workers’ efficiency, which some employers believed would happen. There were this movement which advocated the moderation or elimination of alcohol that were emerging from concerns it was called, “The Temperance Movement.” This movement were mainly led by women where two groups were created one in the year 1874 while the other in the year 1893 there names were the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League. This movement was supposed to only work out to cut alcohol consumption, but was later pressed for prohibition laws banning the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol.

The Progressive Reform Movement The Progressive Era is often looked as an age of reformation from the economic boom in the Gilded Age. From around 1890 to 1920s, citizens of the progressive reform movement had plans to amplify our American government and economy. The different outlooks and biases have created many interpretations of this era, along with many others. Historians have many different interpretations of the reform movement during the Progressive Era.

The progressives, wanted to create a society that acted as one. The idea of being an individual was something to be forgotten in order to create a more perfect civilization of order and pureness. During this time of the progressive movement, the rest of society began to reject it ideology of their message and goals of non­pleasure and work. Especially around the Carina Arreola History 1302 W.Wooten time of World War One, the Great depression, and the New Deal.

Women in the Progressive Era The Progressive Era was a time of change across America, a time when the country chose to reform into an industrialized urban country. Prosperity was widespread across America, so people turned to social issues to try to expand. Minorities in particular became a focus of this time period, and everyone tried to find a way to integrate them into society.