The Progressive Reform Movement The Progressive Era is often looked as an age of reformation from the economic boom in the Gilded Age. From around 1890 to 1920s, citizens of the progressive reform movement had plans to amplify our American government and economy. The different outlooks and biases have created many interpretations of this era, along with many others. Historians have many different interpretations of the reform movement during the Progressive Era. These different views are seen through the following articles: “Progressivism: Middle Class Disillusionment” by George Mowry, “Urban Liberalism and the Age of Reform” by Joseph Huthmacher, and “Progressivism Arrives” by Robert H. Wiebe. The first essay written by George Mowry provides …show more content…
Huthmacher looked at these individuals as the first hand creators of the progressive reform movement. As Huthmacher states, “Unlike the middle-class reformers, who generally relied[...], and social scientists to delineate the ills of society, the urban working class knew at first hand the conditions of life on ‘the other side of the tracks’” (11). This is a main point that would stand out to the reader about Huthmacher’s interpretation because he contradicts the middle class reformers sources. The lower class lived the problems of the Progressive Era and, “Their outlook tended to be more practical and "possibilistic" than that of some middle-class Progressives who allowed their reform aspirations to soar to Utopian heights,[...]” (Joseph Huthmacher 11). One thing most of these reformers seeked was an increase in their workplaces. They were not as concerned about the monopoly factor as long as, “[...]he provided job security and adequate wages and working conditions, and passed some of the benefits of large-scale production on to consumers in the form of lower prices” (Joseph Huthmacher 13). Based on Huthmacher’s article, historians should focus more on the lower class and their thoughts, such as their real life experiences and careers, when interpreting the Progressive …show more content…
Wiebe displays the reforms of the Progressive Era and the changes they were seeking. Wiebe describes the progressive reformers as, “the new middle class” (Robert H. Wiebe 80). Ultimately, this new middle class was looking to reorder the government by themselves. A major reoccurring theme was the focus on the children based on Wiebe’s view of the progressives. This is shown when Wiebe writes, “He united the campaigns for health, education, and a richer city environment, and he dominated much of the interest in labor legislation” (Robert H. Wiebe 82). Wiebe’s viewed reformers had an overall want for better social and political reforms (like many other
Progressivism, a broad idea of hopes to bring change in the social and political lives of Americans, arose around the year 1900. During this time, the social structure had troubles; for instance, female reformers organizations formed in hopes to protect women and children, the middle class felt threatened by businesses, and the contribution to political and economic decisions from all classes was inexistent. To counteract the conditions of nineteenth century American life, Jane Addams and other settlement house workers worked directly toward creating a more equitable social structure. Thus, they shaped American Progressivism by reconstructing the function of democracy to include disenfranchised Americans through prompting social and political
Their methods to achieve their goals were raising public awareness for women suffrage, and creating a social organization to help the poor out. All in this proves in the 1800’s and early 1900’s reformers in the unites states had their own goals and trying different methods to advance the
Huthmacher conveys that liberalism of Americans made the type of political system they were wanting. He asserted that the government got involved because of how the lower class portrayed their rights and voted for legislation. The low class was looking for improvement for working conditions. He provided job security, better wages and working conditions, and gave some benefits of production to consumers. “As a result, we find urban lower-class representatives introducing a large variety of business regulatory measures on the local and state levels during the Progressive Era”(Huthmacher 13).
The 1900s was a time period filled with political corruption, social inequality and injustice, discrimination, poor working and living conditions. The progressive movement resulted in response to these issues. Members and advocates of this movement were usually white (some blacks too), middle-class, Christian, college educated women (and men). They sought to achieve social justice through equality and enhance life in America for everyone. To further the nation’s democratic ideals, they hoped to incorporate reforms based on the expectations of the majority public.
The goals of progressive reforms were limiting the power of large companies, political reform, reducing poverty and reducing the social inequality. Progressive reforms rejected the idea of Social Darwinism and appealed for compulsory education, better housing, higher wages, works laws protecting childhood from exploitation. Reforms were not only coping against the urban machines, the spoil system and trusts like the standard oil, but were also claiming for more government intervention to solve social and economic
The Progressive Era from the 1890s to 1920s was a period that experienced extensive social activism and political reforms across the United States. This movement was spurred by the heightened level of corruption and injustice of large corporations and in government at that time. The movement primarily comprised of “liberals who wanted to reform and regulate their capitalist society and not destroy it. " There were several pushes to make the political process more open and transparent. One of which was the adaptation of the direct primary elections and to grant the Presidents more powers to regulate new laws.
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
As the United States advanced as a nation the Populist and Progressives sought out each other’s differences, but also found significant similarities regarding the rights of the American people and the working class citizen. The Populist Party, established in 1891, signified a radical form of agrarianism that was more in favor of wanting demands met such as direct election of senators, working conditions, and public control of government action. Whereas the Progressive movement believed in problems that society faced as a whole such as government control, and equality in workplaces. The Populist and Progressives are indeed different, however without the Populists, Progressives would not have the structure to have created their movement. All reforms that the Populist desired were listed under the Omaha Platform, even though many requests were denied the
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.
Populism and Progressivism were two very important movements in US history, that occurred during the outbreaks of the workers union after the civil war. These movements led to the formation of the Populist party in 1892 and the Progressive party in 1912. While there are many similarities between the two movements, they are also very different. The two parties fought for very similar things.
Reform movements of the Progressive Era changed the importance of America in every other aspect of life. Starting from birth control reforms to government reform and many others who’d brought a new wave of prosperity in this country. I would like to share my views about the Educational reforms of progressive era, because the progressives of that time worked really hard to reform and rejuvenate the school, college at council level. The most important fact of this era was the expansion in number of schools and student, especially in the fast flourishing metropolitan cities. Furthermore in the late 19th century most southern children especially living in rural areas received more than an elementary education.
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.
These contrasting ideals of human nature, can be supported or dismissed by Charles Murray 's interpretation of the New Upper Class and the New Lower Class in America. Murray’s novel Coming Apart, redefines the American social classes and establishes the New Upper
As real was the sheer destitution of its slums. Both worlds plenty and poverty existed side by side. As the 20th century began, the plight of the urban poor was heard by more and more reformers, and meaningful change finally
Downward Mobility: The Middle Class: The rise from nothing to something, the American Dream, has not occurred for U.S. families in a long time. A popular Anthropologist during the 1990’s conducted another research project, Falling from Grace: Downward Mobility in the Age of Affluence, to look into the lives of multiple families in the United States who are trying to maintain their class. Another research project she conducted during this time, No Shame in My Game, focused on full time workers who were still considered poor. Many would describe the individuals in the experiment as not motivated with a poor work ethic, but they have struggle barriers that keep them from moving up. iii.