Populists Vs Muckrakers

The Progressive Era was a time of beneficial change and growth for the United States. Progressives felt that the country was unsafe and heavily government-controlled. Progressives could easily see the issues that surround the country. They could see these issues “In the power of a small directorate of Wall Street bankers and corporate executives, the manipulation of democracy by corrupt political machines and the rise of new systems of managerial control in workplaces,” (Foner, E., 2016). Two groups paved the way for the Progressive Era—the Populists and the Muckrakers. The Progressive Era would benefit from these two groups. James Stevens explains that “The populist platform of 1892 outlined many reforms that would be accomplished in the Progressive
The Progressive Era would gain new focus from populist ways of thinking. Muckrakers also paved the way for this period. Muckrakers are “social critics who publicize festering problems,” (2019). The Progressives were pushing for governmental change, and muckrakers were determined to publicize scandals that involved the government. The Progressives would benefit because of the muckraker’s publicizing of the scandal. “Books and articles exposed corruption in the stock market, the meat industry, the life insurance industry, and the political world,” (2019). Progressives would have proof of the issues that they were addressing, and this was due to the muckrakers. Populists and muckrakers helped the Progressives move forward with the demands that they advocated
The government and large corporations were being held accountable for their corrupt practices, and workers would begin to gain rights that they had long deserved. Women would finally be allowed to claim their place in society, and they were seen as more than just housewives and mothers due to this movement. Social injustices were fought against, and numerous changes were a result of the Progressive Movement. Women might not be able to own land, vote, or participate in activities that they desired to if it had not been for this movement. Today, various individuals are fighting against big corporations and the government, as they expect nothing but accountability from both. These two groups are expected to be held accountable for their actions, and this might not have happened if it had not been for the Progressive Movement. The Progressive movement profoundly changed the way that the United States was governed, and the country is still impacted by these changes that were advocated for by the