The Progressive Era Essay

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The United States has been influenced by many conflicts, movements, and people. Every single movement or conflict has developed the nation in one way or another. From Westward Expansion to World War One the United States has developed immensely but one prominent time period that influenced the United States greatly was the progressive era.The progressive era was the most influential time period between 1870 and 1935 because it increased conservation in the United States, encouraged more rights for women, and attacked child labor. Overall progressivism had a great role to play in constructing a fair and just society. The progressive era had a prominent effect on the conservation of the natural wonders around the nation. The progressive era …show more content…

Many women took part in advocating, by creating the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the National Woman's Suffrage Association, the American Woman Suffrage Association, and the National Women’s Party. Alice Paul who led the National Women’s Party advocated for women’s rights by leading her group to picket in front of the white house. Paul and her group were arrested and she was force fed, which got out to the press and many citizens were in support of rights for women. Ultimately Alice Paul secured the passage of the 19th amendment leading women to victory (Women’s Suffrage). In addition many political cartoons and newspapers were created which reflected how the progressive era impacted women’s rights. In particular the cartoon “The Awakening'' depicted a woman holding a torch marching towards the West of the nation towards the outreaching arms of women in eastern states begging for the right to vote (Mayer). Overall the progressive era awakened many women to stand together and fight for their rights, developing the United States into a society that treats women …show more content…

Child labor was a prominent issue that stole many children's childhoods and health due to the extremely long hours they had to work. The progressive era brought about many individuals willing to fight for change, for example a clergyman in Arkansas named Edgar Garden Murphy formed the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) which was a nationwide organization that supported state based efforts to pass legislation. The organization drew up a model child bill copying the best features found in progressive states. The bill contained a minimum working age of 14 for manufacturing and 16 for mining. Moreover the bill contained a maximum workday of 8 hours, required proof of age, and outlawed nightwork (History of child labor in the United States). Many political cartoons were designed during the progressive era to stir up support for child labor laws. In particular the political cartoon “Happy Childhood Days” a big business owner is shown in a cart labeled “Child Labor Exploiter” while tired children are pushing the cart. In addition below the cartoon there is another cartoon in which a big business owner is seen holding a whip while he watches a little girl tirelessly sew (Richards). The reformers and organizations that emerged during the progressive era ultimately helped children obtain their lives and gave them the opportunity to get an

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