Early Reformist Ideas: The Progressive Movement
Early reformist ideas in the late nineteenth century contributed to the progressive movement in the early 1900s due to similar ideas and programs throughout both time periods. The economic, political, and social policies during the early twentieth century correspond with the reform movements of the late 1800s. While the changes in labor and trusts related to the formation of labor unions, and public operation and restraint of the government was similar to the Populist group and the ideas of corrupt legislators or companies, the reformist writers in the progressive era along with racial and gender equality movements were due to the influence of early writers and programs dedicated to equality. The connection between the reformers and the progressive
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Steel and the Tennesse Coal and Iron Company. President Wilson also contributed greatly with multiple acts including the Workingmen’s Compensation Act for federal civil-service employees and the Adamson Act establishing the eight-hour workday. He also contributed with tackling the tariff, the banks, and trusts through the Underwood Tariff with a graduated income tax, allowed by the 16th amendment. Similar in monetary balance, The Federal Reserve Act allowed paper money issuing by twelve regional banks, and gave way to the Federal Trade Commission Act, further investigating the activities of trusts and helping to eliminate unfair trade, competition, advertising, or bribery. To help labor unions specifically, the Clayton Anti-Trust Act was added to exempt labor unions from being called trust, and legalized strikes and peaceful picketing. Trusts were also condemned by Democrats with the belief that “there should be no abridgement of the right of the wage earners and producers to organize for the protection of wages and the improvement of labor conditions” (Doc I). Many of these progressive beliefs spawned from the early Knights of Labor, who believed in an end to “the employment of children under fifteen year of age in workshops, mines and
Steel and the Tennesse Coal and Iron Company. President Wilson also contributed greatly with multiple acts including the Workingmen’s Compensation Act for federal civil-service employees and the Adamson Act establishing the eight-hour workday. He also contributed with tackling the tariff, the banks, and trusts through the Underwood Tariff with a graduated income tax, allowed by the 16th amendment. Similar in monetary balance, The Federal Reserve Act allowed paper money issuing by twelve regional banks, and gave way to the Federal Trade Commission Act, further investigating the activities of trusts and helping to eliminate unfair trade, competition, advertising, or bribery. To help labor unions specifically, the Clayton Anti-Trust Act was added to exempt labor unions from being called trust, and legalized strikes and peaceful picketing. Trusts were also condemned by Democrats with the belief that “there should be no abridgement of the right of the wage earners and producers to organize for the protection of wages and the improvement of labor conditions” (Doc I). Many of these progressive beliefs spawned from the early Knights of Labor, who believed in an end to “the employment of children under fifteen year of age in workshops, mines and