Progressive Movement Failures
Introduction:
As America moved towards the 20th century, different social and economic ideas began to emerge, particularly concerning human nature, the form of government, constitutions, and the overall purpose of the system people called “government.” Individuals who worked to develop these beliefs sought to change and coordinate the political and social views of the American people. This movement is known as Progressivism. Many of these reformers were part of the middle class and often had lasting impacts on American politics. Unfortunately, Progressivism failed to recognize the racial issues and the marginalization of numerous minority groups. Sadly, anyone who did not worship a certain way, or look a certain way, was excluded from the …show more content…
Racial discrimination, the marginalization of minorities, and the reinforcement of systemic inequalities are just a few of the horrors Progressives played a role in. This movement completely abandoned its initial intentions of doing good by veering into policies and actions that often oppressed, excluded, and dehumanized thousands of Americans. The actions of Progressives failed to meet their objectives of healing America, instead continuously contradicting their philosophies while betraying their core values. Politically, efforts like Prohibition led to a rise in crime, while segregation was sadly perpetuated by powerful leaders such as President Wilson. Economically, acts like the Immigration Act of 1924 and the Social Security Act excluded large groups, such as immigrants, domestic minority workers, and those seeking freedom from persecution. The embrace of eugenics stripped people of what they deemed "unfit" for their basic human rights. Although the intention was to improve society, the movement hurt far more people than it helped. Ultimately, the Progressive Movement failed to address the intersections of gender, class, and race, falling short of its objectives and worsening the very problems it sought to
As America moved towards the 20th century, different social and economic ideas began to emerge, particularly concerning human nature, the form of government, constitutions, and the overall purpose of the system people called “government.” Individuals who worked to develop these beliefs sought to change and coordinate the political and social views of the American people. This movement is known as Progressivism. Many of these reformers were part of the middle class and often had lasting impacts on American politics. Unfortunately, Progressivism failed to recognize the racial issues and the marginalization of numerous minority groups. Sadly, anyone who did not worship a certain way, or look a certain way, was excluded from the …show more content…
Racial discrimination, the marginalization of minorities, and the reinforcement of systemic inequalities are just a few of the horrors Progressives played a role in. This movement completely abandoned its initial intentions of doing good by veering into policies and actions that often oppressed, excluded, and dehumanized thousands of Americans. The actions of Progressives failed to meet their objectives of healing America, instead continuously contradicting their philosophies while betraying their core values. Politically, efforts like Prohibition led to a rise in crime, while segregation was sadly perpetuated by powerful leaders such as President Wilson. Economically, acts like the Immigration Act of 1924 and the Social Security Act excluded large groups, such as immigrants, domestic minority workers, and those seeking freedom from persecution. The embrace of eugenics stripped people of what they deemed "unfit" for their basic human rights. Although the intention was to improve society, the movement hurt far more people than it helped. Ultimately, the Progressive Movement failed to address the intersections of gender, class, and race, falling short of its objectives and worsening the very problems it sought to