Preview

The Progressive Era

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
622 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Progressive Era
Jerome Weston

The Progressive Era

The Progressive Era, which lasted from the 1890s to the 1920s, was an age of reform, the nation’s response to the industrial revolution. Its effects touched virtually all Americans and transformed the role of government in American society. Although some areas of American life, namely, racial issues and women's rights, were neglected during the progressive age, the groundwork was laid for future reforms in those areas and others.

During the 1900’s cities were crowded with millions of poor laborers, the working conditions were appalling. The progressive reformers did not fix everything but helped dramatically. Political powers were unable to control the rapid economic and social changes. These changes were brought about by the industrial revolution that was happening in America. Since political powers couldn’t help with the economic changes, the progressive movement grew outside the government. The progressive movement soon forced government to take stands and deal with the growing problems. The year 1886 was the approximate beginning of the progressive era. During the 1890’s the Populist Party which was made up of farmers, small businessmen, and reform-minded leaders. They were willing to confront the growing problems that America had during this time. By 1917 most of the problems that were addressed by the Populist Party were addressed by the government. The progressive era had a big impact in the role of government in the American Society. Progressive leaders during this time were Robert La Follette, Theodore Roosevelt, and Woodrow Wilson were not really part of the Populist Party but were aware of the conditions and demanded reform. (www. The Progressive Era: The Great Age of Reform, Henry J. Sage.com, 13June2011)

Under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and many other political and business leaders, the nation began to clean up its act. By 1916 hundreds of national, state and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    With the rise of immigration, industrial growth, and the widespread urban expansion, the United States had drastically during the last quarter of the 19th century. However, by the 20th century, a wide range of groups and individuals with a common desire to improve life in the gilded age sought reform. This era became to be known as the progressive era which was a reaction to excess of industrialization. During the progressive era people of the United States wanted to make moderate political change and social improvement through government actions. Although the Progressive movement did occur in the late 1800s, it wasn’t however, until Theodore Roosevelt became president when progressivism gained momentum.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Progressive Era was a social and political reformed developed to combat corruption and to further establish a more efficient government. Everybody supported the Progressive Era except the wealthy monopoly sector. Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson are just a few of the presidents who joined efforts to change the American old ways with the new. Three contributions for the Progressive reforming out of many were: journalism discovery known as muckraking, economic policy, and taylorism. Journalism discovery investigated as “Muckraking” was similar to todays investigative journalism.…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    DBQ: The Progressive Era

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The progressive era directly followed the post-civil wartime of chaos and corruption. The United States of America desperately needed change. As a result of this desire for change a varied group called progressives (which were largely composed of white middle class), pushed to improve America’s current condition and created a set of goals. A majority of these goals were achieved pushing America to having increased social justice, corporation control, and regulations on consumer products. However not all hopes of change were granted and some failures still remained. The progressive era was a time of major reform and for the most part took strides of success towards its myriad of goals, which the U.S. desperately needed to achieve.…

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    At the start of the 20th century, the United States were experiencing many changes in the ways that their economics and politics operated. After the Civil War, Restoration, and the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era was a time the United States could establish the principles of the country and begin to build what America is today,. With large monopolies running the nation's economy, such as those run by J.P. Morgan, Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Vanderbilt, many people sought Reformation and wanted to fix the problems of the country. The reformers, or Progressives, wanted to fix the corruption in the government, trusts, poor living and working conditions, and morals in the country. They also fought for conservation of forests, and the rights of blacks, women, and immigrants. The Progressives brought reformation to a national level. The efforts they made lasted nearly twenty years, and came with many successes and limitations.…

    • 658 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The late 1800’s and early 1900’s was called the Progressive Era. Society became more diverse while industry flourished. But problems like monopolies, discrimination, and corruption arose so the idea of change raced through people’s heads. A group of people called progressives decided to take action. This denouement benefits for not only the federal government but America itself.…

    • 452 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Progressive Era was the turn on the 20th century where different groups wanted to reform our nation economically, socially, and politically. Many people were suffering from The Great Depression during this time. The progressives had four main goals; the government should be more accountable to its citizens, its should curb the power and influence of wealthy interests, it should be given expanded powers so that it could become more active in improving the lives of its citizens, and it should become more efficient and less corrupt so that they could completely handle an expanded role. Henry George proposed that the government should start charging landowners single taxes because he thought people were becoming poor because the would buy land and hold onto it until the price went up. Progressives sought more social welfare programs such as unemployment benefits, accident and health insurance, and social security systems for the elderly and disabled. Another big change in the Progressive Era was the Women’s Suffrage where women finally had the right to vote. Just like the Great Society and The New Deal Eras, the Progressive Era wanted to help people and provided the people…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The “Progressive Era” of the early twentieth century was a period that experienced a widespread of social and political activism and reform. During this time, Progressives sought to terminate industrial and political corruption in order to make the government more efficient, safe, and honest. They tackled child labor, took on the banking system and at the same time, the women’s suffrage movement was on the rise. A distinct similarity between Progressives of the early 1900’s and Progressives of today can be found in their political leaders. Theodore Roosevelt emerged as a national political leader who advocated the breaking of monopolies, fair trade, and pro-labor laws.…

    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Progressive Era Dbq

    • 1060 Words
    • 5 Pages

    During the Progressive Era the American society was evolving; technology, businesses and industry were advancing. However many problems rose in America. Many people faced poor working conditions including low pay and dangerous environments. Consumers were becoming aware of the horrors of the food industry. Women were seeking their right to vote, and the government was infested with the social elites who controlled industry, trusts and monopolies. Progressive reformers worked to improve the conditions people in the United States faced; they worked towards protecting consumers, improving working conditions, and expanding democracy.…

    • 1060 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Populists Vs Muckrakers

    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages

    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.…

    • 1081 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Progressive Era Dbq

    • 417 Words
    • 2 Pages

    During the Progressive Era, pressure from labor, suffrage, and conservation movements profoundly changed the course of American history. Many of the reformers' ideas clashed with the male-dominated, capitalist economic structure present at the turn of the century. Some of the intended reforms opposed the current system, but the level of social unrest necessitated change. Businessmen and activists alike initiated the reforms during the Progressive Era. Government, due to the intention of calming the common man and quieting the seemingly more and more vocal middle class, supported them from the year 1900 to 1920, Progressive Era reformers were successful in bringing about reform to the United States.…

    • 417 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The time period from the latter parts of the 19th century and into the first couple decades of the 20th century there was a reform movement. This movement was centered on addressing different political, economic, and cultural questions that were brought forth by the rapid ascent in changes that were the product of the Industrial Revolution. Capitalism was also a concern as this experienced a dramatic growth in America that was not seen before. What started out as a social movement, turned into a political movement. This rapid change brought out the best and the worst of people and thoughts of how to fix, or reform the problems in a way that was the most beneficial. According to Theodore Roosevelt describing the Progressive movement and what they embody, “the movement which concerns itself with the rights of all women and men, especially with the welfare of all who toil.” This is what the Progressive movement was all about. There were changes in the culture, makeup, understanding, and direction the country was heading in that was causing alarm and the need for change was being called for.…

    • 986 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Progressive Era began in the 1890’s. The Progressive Era was a period of social and political reform in the US. Progressivism is the term applied to a variety of responses to the economic and social problems rapid industrialization introduced to America.…

    • 1738 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Amidst these transformations, the Progressive Era emerged, spanning from the 1890s to the 1920s, characterized by fervent endeavors to address societal inequities through political and social…

    • 700 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    How successful were progressive reforms during the period 1890-1915 with respect to TWO of the following? Industrial conditions; urban life; politics.The late 19th century and early 20th century were marked by a period of reforms known as Progressivism. During this time, leaders of Progressive reforms aimed to improve American lives by instigating changes that would influence politics and urban lifestyles. Progressivism generally helped improve the everyday life and reduced corruption within the nation’s…

    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Over the course of the twentieth century, the United States has progressed tremendously from the late 1890s to the present day due to various U.S political reformers that have sought out to use the powers of federal government to resolve both social and economical issues that have affected the people. Throughout the span of time, there were three critical time periods that revolutionize the country starting from the Progressive era followed by the New Deal and the Great Society.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays