What Were The Positive Effects Of The Progressive Era

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The Industrial Revolution in the U.S would forever change American life. Not only did the Industrial Revolution create jobs in cities (that would motivate many foreigners to immigrate to America), but it also brought about many new technologies and new transportation methods that made American life much simpler and easier than it had been before. Although industrialization and urbanization seemed to have a positive effect on the U.S, it actually caused many problems that would last for decades. Beginning in 1890, the Progressive Era began as a way to solve these problems. The era brought out many different reform groups that would challenge monopolies, corruption in government and social injustices brought on by the Industrial Revolution. Not …show more content…

The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century had opened the door for business leaders to form monopolies under the notion of laissez-faire. By the end of the 19th century, large corporations led trusts in order to hid the fact that their company was actually a monopoly. As a result of the growing number of trusts in the U.S, the general public began to call for some kind of change, specifically government regulation of these trusts. Thus, Congress took action by passing the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was meant to outlaw trusts (“Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is hereby declared to be illegal (ourdocuments.gov).”) and make monopolization a crime punishable by law (“ Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor…(ourdocuments.gov)”). Although this act had been passed for years, it was not regulated by any president until Theodore Roosevelt entered office in 1901. Theodore Roosevelt was a key figure that brought down corrupt corporate powers that had previously been unregulated under the idea of laissez-faire. An example of actions taken by Theodore Roosevelt's during the progressive era, can be seen in the 1907 cartoon drawn by Clifford K. Berryman [Doc A]. In this cartoon, Roosevelt is seen to have defeated “bad” trusts while still keeping “good” trusts on a leash (meaning that they would be regulated by him and his administration). During his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt would take up more than 40 cases in order to break up these

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