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Progressive Era

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Submitted By cinortz6
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The Progressive Era was a time period of great change that took place between 1885-1920. The Era was an opportunity given to individuals to succeed. During The Progressive Era there were two groups involved in regulating social and political problems known as the muckrackers and the new middle class. The muckrackers were journalist who exposed corruption in the government and spoke about the truth behind everything in society. The progressive’s goals were to stop the abuse of power, labor laws, suffrages, the corruption of the government and its abuse of power.

Progressive’s established settlement houses to improve the living conditions for the poor. They provided a large amount of activities such as education, medical help, nurseries, playgrounds and plenty more. If this wouldn’t of occurred then we wouldn’t have the support we do now from the government with affordable housing, welfare, public schools, and library. The fact we have public school is important because it provides us with the knowledge skills needed to pursue our career. This made a huge impact because schools expanded and states began to pass laws requiring children to attend school until the age of 14. This helped produce a better life for the future. It provided students with options as to what fields they want to study and gave them opportunities to become professionals.
Muckrackers exposed corruption in the government and a change was needed in the society. Government was abusing its power with scandals going on taking money from big businesses, treating workers unfairly and police brutally. By taking money from businesses some were forced to close down or lay off people. If people weren’t laid off they would be over worked with very little pay. Workers would go on strike for shorter workdays, safer work environment, and workers compensation. When these strikes occurred the government would claim it was illegal and would spend the police to shut it down. The police wouldn’t handle the situation in a peaceful manor, instead they would abuse and beat protesters.

If we didn’t have a labor laws we would have a similar system as China on how they over work their employees for little pay, and have kids working in very bad conditions “sweatshops” for a small salary. We would have a lot of poverty and people would feel oppressed and financially an individual won’t economically be able to move forward, when this is supposed to be the land of opportunity. Now we have all sorts of regulations protecting human rights, minimum wages and many others.

Margaret Sanger was a feminist who led the birth-control movement. Sanger believed in women’s rights to sexual pleasure and to determine when to have a child. She pushed for females to be treated equally in terms of being able to sleep with as many partners and having the right to be able to be provided with birth control to prevent bringing children into a world of poverty and being able to decide when you’re ready. This movement helped reverse state and federal laws that didn’t oppose on distribution of information about sex and contraception and those who seen contraception as a health issue for women and also arguing that it destroys marriages. Her speeches and action influenced many and knowing she made a change in most states is indeed is successful. If it wasn’t because she continued to advocate for the rights of woman then we wouldn’t have what is now called Planned Parenthood. This provides service and health care for women to prevent unintended pregnancies, cancer screening, and provides you with information on making responsible choices about sex, life, and family planning . This benefits victims that were involved in a rape crime and supplies them with medication such as the day after pill, or in other cases abortions.

Suffragists were Progressive feminists aiming to improve women’s rights. Giving women the right to vote has been a major issue in many states. Females were asserted as being responsible for housekeeping and being home with the family not making any political or economic decisions. In the early twentieth century two organizations were passed The National American Woman Suffrage Association, led by Carrie Chapman Catt and National Woman’s Party led by Alice Paul and Harriot Staton Blatch. These organization strengthened public awareness. It convinced legislators that women’s wartime contributions as factory laborers, medical volunteers and municipal workers should give them the right to vote. If women are being able to work in factories and provide medical assistant during the first World War then they should have the ability to vote. Nonetheless in 1920 the Nineteenth Amendment ratified, giving the women the vote in federal elections.

Also, one of the main concerns was the purity of food and patient medicines. Reformers had been urging government regulations of processed meat and drugs. In 1906 a write Upton Sinclair published “The Jungle”. Its purpose was to expose Chicago meatpacking plants and to improve working conditions. This novel made a change in society because it pushed for the Meat Inspection Act, which congress passed in 1906. It ensure that meat was being processed under sanitary conditions and that the government will now have to pay for inspections and may lead to meatpackers having to attend court. The Pure Food and Drug Act in was also passed in 1906. Its objective was to protect people against adulterated foods and to address abuse in the patent medicine industry. This act made the public aware of the ingredients being used in the medication they were taking and gave them an opportunity in making a wiser choice. This act was important and benefits us on because it this Act wasn’t passed then it would’ve led to a lot of casualties because of food poisoning, people getting sick from the contaminated food and would’ve also lead to the spread of bacteria, viruses and parasites.

Furthermore as you have read in my essay the act was very effective and the positive effect still continues until today. Although there may have been a few arguments because of the consequences it still doesn’t surpass the positive effects.

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