Reform Movements Of The Progressive Era

The years between 1825 to 1850 was a time for society to transform. Society was offering more opportunities to those who were below the white males on the social pyramid; which were women, child, blacks, and immigrants. The statement, “Reform movements in the United States sought to expand democratic ideals,” is a not valid for this time period because the reform movements were to benefit those who were fighting for equality, whereas, the democratic ideals were only benefitting the rich white males in society. Document C shows a picture of a slave chained to the ground with the quote, “Am I not a not a woman and a sister?” This is trying to say that the women were gaining more rights that was building up their social status to the men.

This piece introduces changes that occurred during the Progressive Age. More specifically, political, cultural, and social changes in America. For example, the Sherman Anti-Trust Laws. Changing the way monopolies are for the present and the future. Then reshaping administration in our country, and lastly Theodore Roosevelt.

The American history has had many memorable moments over the time period from 1870 to 1920 which has helped develop the way America is today. Each time period holds many life changing events and discoveries in them. We, as Americans, learn from past events and work together to make this country a better and safer home. Starting in the 1865 to 1877 the Reconstruction began in the South following after the American Civil War. This alteration in the south was not welcomed by the Southerners, which resulted in many problems throughout this process.

As the 2016 Presidential race begins to capture the public’s attention, the question, how engaged the public is in the democratic process, remains unanswered. What are ways to promote the public’s informed political involvement is just as pertinent today as it was in at the dawn of the twentieth century known as the Progressive Era. Some progressive activist such as Irene Sargent saw city beautification as a path to encourage civic pride, which leads to an involved public. Others like Professor Charles Zublen believed a continually educated public would become in involved in public hall meetings and a council form of government. Zueblin’s idealistic vision was thwarted by University of Chicago President Harry Pratt Judson’s objections

During the progressive era political parties controlled everything about the social system and could easily dominate the other party by forming political machines. The parties recruited members by offering them jobs, money, and favors. They also provided social services, hosted community events, and gave food to the needy, all in exchange for votes. During the time of reform the two main views on government were the progressive party and the populist movement. The populist movement was supported mainly by farmers in the south and west, they wanted local stores built, more railroads, and more telegraph lines.

The Progressive Reform Movement Many Historians have different views on how history events occurred. The Progressive Reform movement is a common event historians talk about. Historians have had conflict about who the progressives were, who they represented, and who the reformers envisioned. A few historians who have given their opinion on the Progressive Reform Movement are George mowry, Joseph Huthmacher, and Robert Wiebe.

Progressive Era Reforms During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the United States was experiencing a time of widespread reform. This movement brought great changes to multiple fields and areas in the United States. These reforms were ideas that improved the quality of life for working and normal citizens in the United States. Two such examples of these movements are found in reforms made within the working and living conditions across America.

During the late 1800’s a seemingly impossible uphill battle for equality and rights gained a new ally in the Progressive Movement, whose main goal was to enact reform in a practical, plausible way. Before this Movement social conditions were worsening across the United States and inequality in politics ran rampant, to spread the news of this new forms of media and campaigning arose, and after the Progressive Movement ran its course it left a drastic imprint on the history of American reform. This era is famous for its changes and philosophies that governed America and its people such as the argument between Conservationists and Preservationists or the issue of tariffs that had persisted since the birth of the United States, but what the Progressive

Reformation is an essential part of American history. It is the abiltiy to change ineffective or outdated structures of society. Reform movements during the Antebellum Movement,and the Civil Rights Movement are examples of reactions to injustices. Social Conservatives that are complacent attempt resist these changes. Reform movements have led to the Government to have more active role in society.

After the Civil War, our country was battered and beaten, but it rebuilt itself over time and spread its policies, as well as manufacturing practices, throughout our country. Early in the 20th century, members of our nation started to look at some of these practices and policies and began to question their merit and whether they assisted our population or not. Many people were involved in the progressive movement in America from the presidents to a slew of popular authors and photographers. The one thing that they had in common was that they saw problems with how various industries in our nation performed that they knew needed to be fixed. They did not always agree on everything, such as immigration, but they always had the nation’s best interest at heart.

The “Progressive Movement was an early-20th century reform movement seeking to return control of the government to the people, to restore economic opportunity, and to correct injustices in American life.” (Danzer R54). The Progressive Era marked the end of the “Gilded Ages” and a start of a new era. The Progressive Era started in 1901 in the United States (Fagnilli 26). There were many major reforms in the Progressive Era that altered and advanced American society.

Throughout the ages women have faced varying degrees of sexism and during the progressive era this was a very prominent issue, women had finally had enough of being treated as second class compared to white males and simply males in general. They weren’t allowed to vote, own property if married, they were extremely restricted in what types of jobs they could get and often encouraged to just stay home, not to mention the large wage gap between white males and white females ensuring that on their own women would be hard pressed to survive. In many of the divorce cases the women were still required to take care of the children even though the male technically had custody. Sexism all though not as prominent today is still a very big issue, ranging

The Progressive Era was a time period where people known as Muckrakers exposed the problems of everyday people like the poor living conditions while the progressives tried different ways to fix those problems. During this time, there were also six goals that they focused on protecting social welfare, promoting moral improvement, improving efficiency and labor, creating economic and government reforms. One of the major reforms of this time was the Social Welfare reform which helped to improve some of the problems that people faced such as poor housing, lack of education, and social welfare for women. In 1890, Jacob Riis published a book called How the Other Half Lives which exposed the harsh and poor living conditions of immigrants in tenement

The 19th century was a period of widespread social, economical and political problems in the United States, from the 1890s to the 1920s in need of reform. Both parties were created by the people’s dissatisfaction with the government and its ability to appeal to the majority. The Populist movement was founded my farmers, laborers and middle class civilians that wanted government regulation in the economy, more authority in the government, educating immigrants, to prevent government corruption and high positions to be based on experience.

Reforming the Government During the years 1890 to 1920, there was a group of people called the Progressives they identified many problems that they saw in the city at the time. The Progressives were a diverse group of people from every work of life for example: journalists, Democratic politicians, Republican politicians, industry leaders, and many more. They agreed to use scientific principles in order to identify problems, offer solutions, and then in a rational ways solve these problems. For example, a group of journalists who utilized the Progressive ideals were called, “ the Muckrakers,” which helped spread knowledge about political and social problems. The Progressive’s believed society had these problems because of industrialization and organization, however, that is not completely correct.