Progressive Reform

The rapid industrialization of the United States created a myriad of social, political, and economic crises that affected virtually every aspect of American life. Progressivism was
America’s response to the nation’s rapid economic and social changes that were plaguing
American’s on every level. The efforts of progressive reformers resulted in a more efficient nation as a whole and many progressive laws are still in practice today which emphasizes the success of the movement.
Americans were faced with social and economic hardships from the rapid industrialization after the Civil War. American cities were overcrowded with poor laborers and living conditions were unsanitary. In the workplace, individual employment had taken a
backseat
to corporate employment and the working conditions were appalling. Laborers had no means of standing up for themselves in protest of the long hours, low wages, and unsafe work environment. The lack of government involvement in public affairs such as labor reform, public health, and sanitation motivated reformers to encourage the abandonment of this traditional laissez-faire approach in exchange for more active government involvement.
Progressive reformers effectively changed the social and political landscape of America by making government part of the solution.
Liberals of the Jeffersonian era saw government as a threat to liberty. Progressives, however, “believed that broadening the role of government would advance the welfare of its citizens by protecting them from business abuse” (Sage 6). Government was no longer thought of as the problem, but was instead a major part of the progressive’s solution. In the beginning political powers were unwilling or unable to address the problems facing the nation at the turn of the century, so the progressive movement grew outside government.

In order to resolve the issues that were plaguing American life, progressives realized that reform had to be instituted at all levels of society. Because America’s population had become too diverse and complex, it was essential to avoid any reform movement that focused solely on a single aspect of the social and political structure (Sage). The goals of progressive reformers were intended to benefit the taxpayer, which included Democrats and
Republicans, laborers and business owners, and American Middle Class.
Support from all the different levels of society aided the progressive reformers in their success. The working class’ motives were obvious. Workers themselves were exhausted from endless labor at an under-paid job where working conditions were unsafe and work related accidents were common. They were in no position to start a movement on their own. Those who were brave enough to engage in un-union related activity often had their jobs threatened.
Wealthy businessmen and entrepreneurs began to support the progressive movement, mainly for the purpose of “enlightened self-interest” (Sage 5). Efficiency experts had gotten the attention of the business owners and management by demonstrating that providing workers with better working conditions led to greater productivity and therefore generated greater profits. Political figures were known to express similar motives of self-interest, they felt they positions would be put in jeopardy if the people became discontented. However, the working conditions did not improve overnight and big businesses were still controlling people’s lives, the only agency capable of bringing unethical business practice to a heel was the government.
Progressive President Theodore Roosevelt stepped in and with the formation of the
Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903 and additional laws passed to strengthen the
Sherman Anti-trust Act, big businesses and corporations were now strongly regulated by the government. Consumer issues were also part of the reform movement. The Food and Drug act

of 1906 required federal inspection of all consumer products, including meat, and prohibited the production, sale, and transportation of adulterated food products or poisonous medicines
(Sage 9).
Progressive leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and many other political and business leaders played a large role in leading the nation to clean up its act.
Implementing good government at every level was important to reformers. They attacked corruption on every level. Elected administrative officials were supplemented with boards of commissions, and city and county managers provided stability and expertise as governing became more complicated (Cocks). Reformers succeeded in cleaning up government corruption for the most part, though few would agree that even today’s government is totally free of
corruption.
However, many would agree the democratic approach that is in use today is a more efficient method of operation.
Efficiency and conservation was also an issue that progressive reformers tackled.
Progressive leader Robert LaFollette was an innovator in that he insisted on using all the government’s resources as a means of eliminating waste and conserving funds. The “Wisconsin
Idea,” coined by LaFollette, was a project in which he employed Wisconsin State Professors to conduct research and present their findings on ways to improve the well-being of Wisconsin residents. This efficient technique eliminated the cost of employing outside researchers, as the professors were already on the state’s payroll. Other states began following LaFollette’s lead and the government still uses this same approach, taking advantage of all the state’s resources today. Progressives operated on city, county, state, and federal levels. They succeeded in labor reform, passing child labor laws and worker reform laws that made the work place a more

pleasant environment and experience for all members of the workforce. Companies that
were offering services to the public were obligated to follow ethical standards, as well as provide a standardized service and costs to all customers. Progressive reformers were able to achieve their goal of helping the poorer low class citizens by insisting that government take a more active approach in the welfare of people’s lives. Some notable achievements of progressives, women’s suffrage and the direct election of Senators, are still in practice today.
The success of the progressive movement changed the landscape of American life. In retrospect, the only theme that progressive leaders failed to address was the discrimination of
African Americans. Even with the likes of women progressives such as Jane Adams, who helped provide assistance to less fortunate women and the disadvantaged, African American citizens were not extended the same courtesy as Whites until several years later.