Introduction
The end of the 1800s and the beginning of the 20th century are known for rapid growth in the United States. The period is also known as the Progressive era because the country had entered a phase of progress, peace, and prosperity. The main growth industries included finance, mining, railroads, and factory systems. As cities grew, businesses thrived, and incomes rose. However, as industrialization expanded rapidly, so did the influx of problems.
The same time period faced several global crises, including World War I, the American Civil War, and the Great Depression. It resulted in economic devastation, which led to production suffering from low prices. The political arena faced corruption that caused problems with the supply of money and tariffs. Cultural issues regarding education and racial groups also emerged. Americans tried various effective tactics, such as forming labor unions and creating awareness, to address these issues.
Economic Issues
Significant economic changes marked the beginning of the 20th century. Productivity declined, economic growth slowed, major industries closed due to competition, and family incomes stagnated. In addition, as industrialization progressed, labor conditions became low-paying and hazardous, especially for women and children. These working conditions left them critically ill, amputated, or dead. In addition, there was a huge income disparity between men and women, as men were paid more.
In 1900, child labor was common, as children under the age of 16 comprised 18% of the American workers. Children were preferred because they could be paid lower wages than grown-ups to save money. Child labor presented an economic issue that was linked to other community problems, such as poverty and the market’s laws, which required goods production at the lowest cost.
Americans like Jane Addams fought against existing labor laws, especially those that allowed children and women to work late at night. She argued that the children were being exposed to the moral uncertainty of the urban night in Philadelphia, particularly the questionable activities that characterized the nighttime hours. In 1912, she wrote a report, “Night messengers of Philadelphia,” to the child labor committee in the city, proposing the establishment of juvenile curfews, child labor laws, and boys’ clubs to limit the presence of children at night. However, their efforts were ineffective in removing children from the streets because they did not begin until 1930. Nonetheless, the United States ended child labor in the 1930s.
The Great Depression and WWI left many unemployed and with no economic security. Financial uncertainties were also caused by factors such as old age, death, disability, unemployment, and illness. That is why the Social Security Act was enacted in 1935 to offer financial security to American Families. The Act offered old-age insurance, unemployment insurance, and other welfare programs. “More Security for the American Family” is a poster created by the Social Security Board in 1935 to offer hope to women and children who were left with nothing after their husbands passed away. The image shows a mother and child smiling because they can receive monthly benefits until the child reaches 18.
Political Issues
The year 1898 is well known for the birth of the United States as a global superpower. America conflicted with Spain over the support for Cuba’s independence. The Treaty of Paris, 1898, not only ended the war in Cuba but also ceded essential Spanish possessions to the US, including the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The US became a colonial power with international reliance. The beginning of America’s expansion coincided with the peak years of lynching and racial violence in the US.
Many humanitarians were against America’s expansion into Cuba and the Philippines, and some documents speak against it. “Civilization Begins at Home” is a political cartoon depicting President William McKinley thinking about what to do with the Philippines, while Lady Liberty shows the lynching of blacks in the US, and yet it was ignorant to consider the Filipinos barbarians. While jingoists pressured America to spread civilization to its colonies, Anti-imperialists stressed that the US itself was uncivilized because of the preceding racial injustice. Unfortunately, the anti-imperialists’ efforts were ineffective because the US had already considered itself the Ruler of Nations with responsibilities and duties to spread civilization.
Racial Disparities
The early 20th century marked a significant turning point in the legal and political status of African Americans. Although their rights had not been fully recognized, they enjoyed being free from slavery and had better rights as citizens. Nonetheless, racial oppression and segregation escalated as industrialization grew. Several African-American community leaders gathered to form activist groups and create movements to fight oppression. Their primary focus was on creating job opportunities for blacks.
By the time the First World War was being declared in 1917, thousands of blacks were flooding industrial cities. They were also given opportunities to enlist in the US military and fight during WWI. “The Colored Man is No Slacker” is a WWI enlistment poster made by Americans to promote home front patriotism. Edward George Renesch is a white artist from Chicago who created the poster to highlight the heroism of African Americans. The image depicts a black soldier saying goodbye to his lover because he prefers not to be a ‘slacker’ in his responsibilities. Most of the returning veterans were considered heroes and were able to secure high-paying jobs.
Gender Disparities
Gender disparities in the United States were most evident in the political arena. Women desired the right to vote in elections because they believed they needed a voice in the political process. The women’s suffrage movement, which sought to grant all adults the right to vote, gained traction in the mid-19th century.
Women’s suffrage was not only promoted by Powerful white women. Black women, who were victims of sexism and racism, also wanted the ballot. When they realized they had not made a breakthrough by the 20th century, they began staging huge and dramatic parades and hunger strikes to gain more attention.
Women’s suffrage achieved its first significant breakthrough in 1917 with the passage of a law in New York. Congress amended the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, a year later, despite strong opposition. The Alabama Male Association even wrote a letter to Senator Duncan U. Fletcher to oppose the Amendment. He wanted each state to be allowed to handle the issue solely and to save white supremacy in the South. Nonetheless, the letter was ineffective as by the end of 1920, the states of Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee, and Wisconsin had ratified their Amendment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite the prosperity brought about by industrialization in the early 20th century, the United States faced specific gender, racial, political, and economic challenges stemming from World War I, Imperialism, and the Great Depression. America made several efforts to handle these issues. Some, such as the Social Security Act, were effective, while other efforts to achieve gender and racial equality were not. Nonetheless, every stride Americans have made has ensured the country remains a global superpower.