...At the start of the 20th century, America entered the Progressive Era, after a period known as the Gilded Age, where the wealth distribution in the United States became drastically uneven, with the rise of trusts and corporations. The unfortunate result of this process was extremely poor living conditions for a large proportion of the nation’s population (Doc B). The progressives recognised these horrendous conditions and set out to make reforms across a wide variety of areas. These reforms were successful economically, politically, and socially, except in regard to the black population. A major area of improvement to the nation was through societal changes, which included women’s and children’s rights, as well as better regulation in the food industry. Prior to the reforms of the era, women were forced to work long hours within the poor conditions of factories. These were protested by progressives, culminating...
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...The Progressive Era reformers and the Federal Government was not effective in bringing about reform at the national level because the reforms left out people that are still marginalized. African Americans, women, and immigrants are the groups of people that have been discriminated during the Progressive Era because of their race or gender. The food manufacturing industry and child labor laws are the only things that have successfully transformed, but they are nothing compared to the discrimination that certain people in the United States have faced. The discrimination towards African Americans during the Progressive area was tremendous. During 1890-1920 America was growing rapidly, which meant there was numerous opportunities for people to have a better life style. This was not the case for most African Americans because they were still being discriminated. They were being publicly humiliated, treated differently for political reasons, and even had differing access to things such as health care and their education. The way African Americans have been treated has not drastically changed over time proving that the Progressive Era was not successful not only for African Americans, but also for women. Women of all races have...
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...The Progressive Era was a time between 1890 and 1920 that was all about change. The goal of the leaders was to get rid of problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and corruption in the government. People fought and expressed their opinions through various ways like the formation of strikes and creation of organizations. Many children, of immigrants and lower class, helped their family make money by getting small jobs at factories, sometimes even working alongside their mothers. Mothers often brought their children to work since they did not have anyone to watch them at home, so children were given jobs to make use of the time they were there. This prevented many children from going to school. These jobs were in poor, unsanitary, and unsafe working conditions. It was not uncommon for children to lose their fingers or other limbs when they got caught in the machines. Many businesses hired children because they were easy to train, fast, and worked for low wages. The picture shows children working in a factory with no adult supervision. The children were so small they had to stand on the thread machine. During the Progressive Era, organizations were made to get children out of factories and into schools. This later led to child labor laws and an increase in public schools....
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...The history of prisons in 1800 Harold Flower CHS/230 December 8, 2011 Vashell Anderson The history of prisons in 1800 Prisons before the 1800’s did not have women prisons. In those days the prison were mixed with men, children and women all in the same prison. The prisons in the 1800’s that held women prisoners were treated just like the men in those prison the women also had to do hard labor which consisted of sewing, laundry, cleaning and cooking. All the women were to act like lady’s but also had to be treated like men in those prisons the women talked about how they were over worked and that they wasn’t fed enough in the prisons of the 1800’s. After the 1800’s the prisons started to change this was depending where and what prison you was in at that time there was no toilets in most cases the toilet was a bucket and it might not have been emptied too often. There were prisoners that didn’t do much at all but sat around and waited to die also at that time the cafeterias were not established so the food was forced through the cell bars and you had to eat what they fed you and it wasn’t much and it tasted really bad. You was lucky to be fed every day in today’s prison you do get three meals a day, schooling, and do jobs that are inside the prison also there are some prisoners allowed to work outside the prison walls, there is clean running water with bathrooms and showers, and the best part is that the prisoners have bunks instead of laying on the ground. In the 1800’s...
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...The Progressive Era Ryan Keohane The Progressive Era In the present day progressive can be a tricky word to define. It means many things to many people. Simply put by definition it signifies people promoting and applying social reform, or in other words “liberal” ideas. Americans in the 19th and early 20th century acquired the opportunity to witness progressivism first hand in what is known as the progressive era. This movement dealt primarily with political, economic, moral, and social restructuring. The progressive idea gave American people hope for a better life by attacking the unfair abuses and corruption that was occurring. There were highs and lows during this time that I will further discuss throughout this paper. By the year 1890, 9 percent of America’s population controlled 71 percent of the nation’s wealth. This figure shows how much capitalism had really spread. In the year of 1896 the establishment of a progressive reform began way. Americans started to question economic, political, and cultural changes that were arising due to the start of the industrial revolution. These Americans were social reformers known as progressives. They felt that the changes our country was going through required an establishment of new instruction which correlated with the new industrial age. By 1900, cities were becoming more and more crowded. The bad part about this was simply because much of the people were poor workers that suffered terrible working conditions...
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...my opinion, the key principles of the Progressive Movement were democracy, municipal administration, efficiency, the regulation of large corporations and monopolies, social work, and conservationism. In my opinion, the most significant successes of the Progressive Movement were the constitutional amendments and improvements in the democratic process. Our text tells us “The Progressive use of the amendment created lasting effects on our political system and is often considered the greatest success of the entire movement” (Bowles, 2011). The 16th amendment allowed the federal government to begin collecting income tax from all workers. The 17th amendment gave citizens the power to elect U.S. senators and was a result of the direct primary reform in Oregon. This was important because it allowed voters to choose candidates for office instead of political party leaders (The Progressive Era, 2002). The recall, referendum, and initiative are all examples of Progressive reform that brought more democratic power to the common people. The Progressive Movement’s significant failure, in my opinion, was in regard to racial equality. Even though they fell short of their intentions, we must remember how ambitious their goals were. The Progressive Movement missed their target because they aimed to do too much. I do not think that World War I can be regarded as a Progressive conflict. The First World War was a road block to Progressive reform until the rich, who had fought...
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...BELIEFS/IDEAS/CULTURE: * Thesis and historical context for literary contributors to Progressivism (2 and throughout) * Social Darwinism (3) * New developments in social science (4) * Progressive education reformers and proposals (9) * Temperance and prohibition (12) * Social Gospel (13) * Teddy Roosevelt and American popular culture (15) * AMERICA IN THE WORLD: * GEOGRAPHY & ENVIRONMENT: * T. Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, and conservationism (17) (Note: don’t mistake “conservationism” with “conservatism.” Students confuse the two words often because they look similar, have common roots, and pop up in stories about Republicans.) * PEOPLING: * Peopling of the U.S. during the Gilded Age (6) * Hull House and other aid efforts for immigrants (10) * IDENTITY: * Theodore Roosevelt and race (16) * Woodrow Wilson and race (21) * POLITICS & POWER: * Muckrakers, their publications, and famous works (5 and throughout) (Note: it’s “MUCK-ray-kers,” not “MUCK-crackers.”) * Political machines: definition (including understanding the metaphor); famous examples; pros/cons; political and journalistic reaction (7) * Examples of local progressive reform in the northeast (8) * Progressive legal and political reform at national and state levels (11) * Civil Service reform (13)...
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...active role in the lives of citizens providing assistance and help to those who are in need of it is something that is present in government on all levels. For example, one could argue that middle class tax cuts are a progressive idea, as it is providing economic relief to those who require it the most, as middle class individuals who are those who are mostly workers and individuals who are not working at the level of an industrialist. When progressivism is seen on a local level it is based out of government helping those who need it the most. Think of local governments that organize food drives or ask shoppers to donate a can of food to a food pantry. These are progressivist ideas in action as they help people to realize that the government can take direct and positive action in helping its citizens. Progressivism also helped redefine the role of American politics locally by instituting such things as secret ballots and non-partisan elections. Progressive reform began at local or city level because it was easier to implement compared to state or national reforms. Urban corruption form political machines were a major focus resulting in the reorganization of local government using the commissioner and city manager styles of management. Allen 2 Progressives redefined the role of American politics state wide also. Reform governors such as Theodore Roosevelt, Kobert Lafollete, and Woodrow Wilson all helped get reforms passed in their respective states. Also reforms first...
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...A larger theme that this image describes is the advancement and sue of media. During the progressive era, newspapers were a method in how people shared information and their opinions with others. In fact, the Progressives took advantage of this and learned how to effectively use publicity such as newspapers to advertise and spread their influence to others. This skill could be demonstrated in the image above, which is an article by The New York Times which covers a parade for women suffrage in October of 1915. Another media that the Progressives and other reform groups like the Populist used were books. Some of these books such as The Jungle by Upton Sinclair and The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum demonstrate how they presented and used this...
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...In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several problems plagued America. Citizens were unhappy with low pay and long hours, a lack of safety in the workplace and the misuse of young children in the factory setting. Living conditions in cities were also very unpleasant, due to overpopulation by immigration and a serious lack sanitation of city streets. Reformers of the Progressive Era effectively addressed and resolved these issues. One area of reform in the late 19th century and early 20th century was in the workplace. Laborers were paid extremely low wages, were constantly at risk for injury or death, and worked in inadequate conditions. An example of workers being at risk is the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Due to locked doors and several infringements in fire safety, 146 workers–most of them young women–were either killed by the fire or jumped to their deaths from 8th and 9th story windows. As far as wages go, owners of factories could pay workers as little as they wanted to, since there was no minimum wage set. Owners could also...
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...In the early to mid 19th century, America was blossoming into her empiratic beauty. The Great War had just ended, new laboring laws were being enforced, and the roaring twenties were all the rage. On the political side of things, three very popular presidents were in office during this timeframe. These three men were Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow WIlson, and Theodore’s cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the timeless novel, The Progressive Presidents, author John Morton Blum captured the reader’s attention by showing a glimpse into the lives of these three progressivists and strengthened the idea liberalism. With America having endless opportunities around every corner, but also hindering under internal and external issues, the country was searching for a natural born leader who could save their home country from despair and turn America into the powerful empire the country desired. John Morton Blum wanted the country to see why the liberal progressive movement was the best political party to follow during such hard times in history, he did so by...
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...The Prohibition Era The Progressive Movement was an effort to cure many vice of American society that had developed during the great spurt of industrial growth in the early 19th century. Under the rule of President Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson's presidency they both fulfilled the progressive reform agenda and laid the foundations of the modern activist presidency. They both demonstrated a dominant role in policymaking and were the crusaders of reform. They passed laws to help the American economy and people including laws like Underwood Tariffs, Banking, Anti-Trust regulations, and Pure Food and Drug Act and many more. These were the frontier of reform that have had been tamed, but not all policy were perfect. On October 28, 1919,...
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... The Gilded Age, so named by Mark Twain, was a time period that appeared dazzling on the surface, but was actually corrupt under the falsified image. Over time, individuals began noticing and criticizing the political and social corruption existing in America. Theodore Roosevelt gave a name to the journalists and writers who exposed the underlying corruption in the early 20th century. The term ‘Muckrakers’ was first used in 1906 and became a title these journalists were proud of. Lincoln Steffens was a journalist, lecturer, philosopher, and an overall leading figure among the muckrakers. Lincoln Steffens spent nine years working for a New York City newspaper. In that time, Steffens discovered quite a lot of evidence of the corruption of politicians and business owners. He exposed them for what they were, upper class citizens desiring special privileges in a time when the lower class was living day to day. By 1901, Steffens was a managing editor of McClure’s Magazine, and began publishing many influential articles that offered a documented account of what the big businesses and politicians were doing to society. One of his best known works, The Shame of the Cities, raised many questions in relation to the ethical standards of private interest in public affairs. He explained the links that connected success to moral value and progress of the nation with selfish ambitions. Steffens wrote entries that gave journalism a new purpose, a purpose other than endorsing political parties...
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...to those held by the nations being imperialized. The issuance of both the first and second “Open Door” Notes by secretary of state John Hay showed that the US believed they had the right to tell other nations what to do, and the power to back it up. It was further justified through religious and economic motives, as well as a form of manifest destiny, all of which were traditional American interests. Josiah Strong, a protestant clergyman, argued that imperialism was necessary to bring civilization to the uncivilized, and share American institutions and values. Although there was no clearly defined progressive movement, Nationalism had its place throughout the progressive era and progressive ideas. Many progressives, regardless of what they were individually trying to promote, strove to redeem traditional American values such as democracy. The overall focus of the progressives was improving and refining America despite the fact that there was no common goal. This is, in my opinion, one of the more positive results of growing nationalism in America in the early...
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...Historians still debate whether the Gilded and Progressive eras should be classified as either a “Long Progressive Era” or remaining it as two separate time periods. However in this essay, I will argue that both eras should be divided into two eras due to the rise of third parties, regulations in big businesses and improvements in public health. The historical trends discuss why the Gilded Age should be separated from the years, 1865 to 1879 and the Progressive Era from 1880-1920s. The Gilded Age should be renamed the era of unsolved problems as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution caused strikes, poverty and the mistreatment of workers. The Progressive era should be rename the era of action, as government increased...
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