DBQ: The Progressive Era

Lori Mujaxhi
Mr. Obrien
APUSH Essay
1/12/14

DBQ Essay

The Progressive Era was a period when reformers and the federal government brought about political reform and social change to the United States, which developed from the 1900’s to the 1920’s. The Progressive Era brought attention to reform mostly towards consumer production, labor laws and to the government economically. Limitations were also a part of this movement, however there were many reforms that took place and led the Progressive Era to be effective in a successful way.
Much attention was brought up by muckrakers, who were journalists who supported the reform movement and reported about what went on behind open and closed doors. Exposing these secrets led to American society to reform itself. Many new laws were being passed due to
Because of this Roosevelt sent out Charles P. Neil, who was a labor commissioner, and James Bronson Reynolds, who was a social worker, to Chicago to make surprise inspections in meat packing facilities. They reported that there were horrible conditions and the workers were ignorant. The meat would be shoveled on the filthy wooden floors and piled on tables that were not clean, but the meat was still distributed throughout.(Doc
B) This led to the Meat Inspection Act which got rid of the gruesome working habits and

protected the nation's food supply. The Pure Food and Drug Act was also passed and provided inspection in meat industries and deteriorated food products from being manufactured. This reform developed because of actions that were taken by The Neill­Reynolds Report in 1906 and muckrakers, writers who worked for printing companies, for publishing what went on in these facilities which increased consumer protection.
There was also an increase fight for labor laws. Jane Addams was a reformer who pushed for changes towards child labor.
The Spirit of Youth and the City Streets written by Addams brought attention towards challenges the youth were experiencing and finding the most
It was because of people like Jane Addams that laws restricting child labor were passed and became a part of the progressive reform movement.
Another major reform that developed during the progressive era was trust busting. During this time the government was trying to get rid of corporate trusts and monopolies from growing.
In order to break the trusts congress issued the Clayton Antitrust Act in 1914 which attempted to disallow some actions that could lead to anti­competitiveness.(Doc E) It also strengthened the
Sherman­Antitrust Act. During this era, President Theodore Roosevelt took the
Sherman­Antitrust Act and enforced it, this allowed for companies to price their own companies

making sure no other company could take control of the market and getting rid of the economy's bad trusts as well as preventing a trade monopoly from happening. Document A illustrates a political cartoon where Roosevelt is positioned on top of a bear that he killed. The bear represents the bad trusts Roosevelt has attacked and destroyed. The ridding of bad trusts