The American citizenry entered the turn of the nineteenth century cautious and apprehensive. Uncertain of an immediate solution, the American population was frightened by the immediate consequences of industrialization. As political discourse shifted from expansionism and imperialism to more domestic issues, such as social and industry reform, the American people became less and less certain of their identity. Internationally, the United States boasted unrivaled opulence and flourishing urban environments. Additionally, the United States had an established global influence, and justified most of their expansionist policy and intervention by citing the immense success seen at home. Yet, the issues that plagued the domestic sphere were rarely …show more content…
The progressive movement often oscillated between emphases on social justice, economic inequality, and political reorganization. Due to this, it is difficult to characterize the period with a singular defining trait. It is more constructive to analyze the era in terms of three major areas of reform. First, the progressive era focused on redefining the role of government, secondly, there was a push to counteract the negative effects of industrialization, and, finally, there was a movement to bridge the unequal aspects of society. The three pronged reform approach that progressives pursued led the nation through a moment of uncertainty, which prepared the United States to be more accommodated as a global power and a contributor to modern industrial …show more content…
While an increased faith in social science was undoubtedly positive, there was a dark side to the increased confidence in experts, who claimed the ability to fix the issues of society. For example, Eugenics was a scientific movement that attempted to ameliorate the larger population by targeting specific, inferior genes. Under a facade of protecting public health, eugenicists skewed the social reform movement and attempted to use the government to set a legal precedent to justify their actions. Another example was the legal disenfranchisement of African Americans. In an era of extreme pushes for social equality, the fight against lynching was often neglected. As positive social reform for other discriminated minority groups passed, literacy tests and voting deterrents were WORD. Jim Crow laws and segregation were emboldened, and the African American population was largely left out of the democratic reform that surrounded