Progressive Era Reformers

The Progressive Era, a period in United States history between the 1890s and 1920s, was a period of “social activism and political reform” that flourished in many ways. The purpose of the Progressive Era was to purify the corrupt government, invoke social change, and improve the economic state of the lower and middle classes and immigrants. The Progressive Era reformers were generally very effective in addressing the problems of the late nineteenth, early twentieth century in America. With advancements in media development and innovation, groups such as muckrakers were able to expose corruption in the government and scandals in public health. Social reformers such as Margaret Sanger and Alice Paul were very influential in inciting change to social equality. With the help of institutions such as the Hull House and people like Charles Evan Hughes, immigrants and members of the lower and middle classes were relieved of the corruption and poverty put upon them by big businesses and the corrupt government. The Progressive Era reformers were very successful in addressing the problems at the turn of the century and beyond. Prior to the Progressive Era, life was very difficult for lower and middle class citizens, as well as the majority of the immigrant population. Constantly at the mercy of the powerful bosses and corrupt companies, these citizens could not earn a steady income, and some could not even provide for their families. Many people were attracted to the new Progressive Party due to the fact that it helped to give more power to the workers and promoted economic equality. Much of the attractiveness to the progressive party was as a result of the muckrakers. These were investigative journalists who propelled Progressivism by exposing corruption, economic monopoly, and moral decay in the American society. Through magazines such as The Crisis and McClure’s, muckrakers successfully exposed the problems of American Society with the new innovation of the photograph.