Progressivism
Political movement supporting the ordinary people’s interests through their roles of consumers, employees, parents and citizens.
Progressive Working Class
- High rate of business and industrial development;
- The establishment of labor unions;
- “Making Steel and Killing Men” character of work;
- The spread of protests and strikes;
- The emergency of Populist Party.
Women
- Female labor promotion;
- The emergency of feminists movements and organizations;
- Racism obstacles against black women;
- Female Public Education;
- The spread of children’s labor;
- High rate of divorces;
- Female alcoholism;
- Fight for the rights of women.
Immigrants in Progressive Era
- About 15 million of Immigrants;
- Poor Working Conditions;
- “Americanization” program for immigrants;
- Ethic enclaves;
- The Development of Anti-Immigration tendencies;
- Low wages and terrible living conditions.
City and State Government
City and State Governments’ reforms:
- Social reform – Pingree Hazen, Detroit (1890-1896);
- Structural reform – (1918-1920) Couzen James;
- Municipal reform: city managers, commission government.
- Anti-Trust and Prohibition Acts;
- Federal Trade Commission;
- Pure Food and Drug Act.
Progressive Middle Class Professions
- Middle class is concentrated on Mining sphere development;
- Female fight for infant and maternal health protection;
- Administrative professions;
- Law, business, medicine, religion professions;
- American Medical Association (1901);
- National Education Association (1905);
- Industrial positions.
Presidency and Federal Government
- Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909):
- “Trust Busting”;
- The Jungle – 1905;
- “Meat Inspection Act” – 1906;
- William Howard Taft (1909-1913);
- Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921);
Federal Level:
- Northern Security Company;
- New Nationalism;
- “New Freedom”;
- 1913 – Federal Reserve Board;
- Income Tax Amendment.
Muckrakers and Journalism
- Corruption;
- McClure’s Magazine publishing;
- Social injustice;
- Ida Tarbell’s Standard Oil;
- “The Shame of the Cities”, “The Jungle”.
Progressive Conservation
- National Conservation Congress;
- The Introduction of protecting factory workers law;
- Division between progressives and conservatives.
Socialist Party
- Support to working class;
- Democracy promotion;
- Support to urban areas.
Progressive Era Effects
Positive Impact:
- Changes in all spheres of social activities;
- Democracy promotion;
- Social regulations and reforms;
- Support to Working Class;
- Political and Economic innovations.
References
Divine, Breen, Fredrickson, Williams, Gross & Brands. America Past and Present, 8th edition.
Whose Interests Does Progressivism Represent? Web.
Progressive Era Politics. Web.
Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1929. Web.
Learn about the Progressive Era. Digital History. Web.
Working Class Women. On the Front Lines of Feminism. Web.
Socialist Party USA. Web.