The Progressive Era

1012 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays on progressive era

As the 19th century came to a close a new epoch, known as the Progressive Era emerged in response to industrialization. This early 20th century reform movement pursued control of the government to the people. In order to reinstate economic opportunities and to correct inequity in American life. Progressives believed that government could be used as a powerful tool for social improvement (Gillon, Matson 2009). Although the Progressive ideal was presented by numerous Progressive authors of different genre, together they all presented the impact of the economic, political, social, and moral reforms of the American Society.

The Progressive authors were arranged by challenges of which they offered their opinions, including psychological and sociological, economic and historical, legal, and religious. The first psychological Progressive author, William James laid the groundwork for much of the Progressive thoughts in his book, Principle of Psychology (1890). Throughout the book James challenged the fortitude and pessimism of Social Darwinists, by arguing that humans could control their own process of evolution. The other psychological author, Lester Frank Ward authored Dynamic Sociology (1883). Ward furthermore argued the conjecture of Social Darwinism, and that it had underestimated the capability of human intelligence. According to Ward human intelligence could alter the environment, and improve society (Gillon, Matson 2009).

The second group of authors had quite a different approach than the others, by presenting the economic and historical challenges. Author Thorstein Veblen composed two books, Theory of the Leisure Class (1899) and Theory of Business Enterprise (1904). Veblen’s influential voice offered an antidote to laisse...

... middle of paper ...

... to modernizing the state government with his reform program which included laws that improved civil services. La Follette developed the Wisconsin Idea, which included workers compensation; primary elections, state regulations on railroads and a progressive taxation where wealthy have a higher tax rate. The Wisconsin Idea quickly spread to other states and was a major proponent of the Progressive Era (Gillon, Matson 2009).

The Progressive Era had a major impact on the late 19th and early 20th century America. Social change was looming to protect the citizens in America. There were laws that were politically performed to allow citizens to have their voice heard. Intellectually the educational system was altered to give more authority and awareness to the common man. Economically campaign advertisements were used to generate thousand of new supporters.

Show More
Related

  • America in Crisis: The Panic of 1893

    1178 Words  | 3 Pages

    The numerous problems that the US faced paved way for an era of reform that was directed at enforcing direction and integrity on a society in crisis – The Progressive Movement.

    Read More

  • Progressive Era Dbq

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the year 1900 to 1920, Progressive Era reformers were successful in bringing about reform to the United States in many ways. With the addition of various acts and laws to the United States, the reformers successfully improved the lives of the workingman. Not only that, they also made the United States more technologically advanced. With such groundbreaking inventions as the Model T, and the first aircraft, much reform was brought upon the United States as a whole, at a national level. Throughout these two decades, much development took place in the United States, and much more was on its way.

    Read More

  • Progressive Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Progressive Movement that occurred during the early 20th century was a time of major reform in the United States of America. During this time, there was a group of activists that referred to themselves as the Progressives, and they sought to change society for the people. The way that they intended to do this was change through their ideals of democracy, efficiency, regulation, and social justice. With this movement came the election that changed the course of America’s history “…demonstrating a victory for progressive reforms as both Progressive candidates accounted for 75 percent of all the votes” (Bowles). The candidates in this election were Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.

    Read More

  • Goals of the Progressive Era

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    The term Progressivism implies a philosophy that promotes change/reform in the current political, economic, and social aspects of society while conservatism stresses gradual change in society but promotes tradition rather than change. The Progressive movement from 1901 to 1917 worked to improve aspects of society that grew out of problems which occurred during the Industrial Age. The goals of the "Progressives" were to stop monopolies, corruption, inefficiency and social injustices. Both progressive acts and amendments were being passed to deal with social ills, corruption in politics and corporate America. The period from 1901-1917 was more a victory for liberalism, mainly "modern liberalism", than a triumph of conservatism due to the fact that multiple reform movements were occurring in this era changing political, economic, and social aspects in society to protect the rights of the common man.

    Read More

  • To what Extent the Progressive Movement was Successful

    1284 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the beginning of the twentieth century, the economy was booming, new technology flourished. The rapid industrialization brought achievement to the United States, however, it also caused several social problems. Wealth and power were concentrated in the hands of a few, and poverty and political corruption were widespread. As people became aware of these problems, a new reform group was created. Unlike populism, which had been a group of farmers grown desperate as the economy submerged into depression, the new reform movement arose from the educated middle class. These people were known as the progressives. The Progressive Movement was a movement that aimed at solving political, economic, and social problems. The Progressives were people from the middle class who had confidence that they could achieve social progress through political reform. The Progressives sought after changes and improvements in the society through laws and other federal actions.

    Read More

  • Effectiveness of the Progressive Era

    599 Words  | 2 Pages

    Within the period of 1900-1920, many national reforms were rising to the top as Progressive Era reformers and the federal government heard the voices of the people. The effectiveness of Progressivism is a controversial subject for some, but the future was changed through the events of any actions a president made, the rights of people, and unfair treatment and conditions. This era brings changes to our society that also changes the future of it. These two decades brought forth successful times in bettering America.

    Read More

  • An Obituary For The Progressive Movement Analysis

    2307 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Progressive Movement The progressive movement of the early 20th century has proved to be an intricately confounded conundrum for American historians. Who participated in this movement? What did it accomplish, or fail to accomplish? Was it a movement at all? These are all significant questions that historians have been grappling with for the last 60 years, thus creating a historical dialogue where in their different interpretations interact with each other.

    Read More

  • Federal Government Intervention In The Progressive Era

    1613 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Progressive era was the most crucial time period where federal government intervention was necessary. Before the Progressive era started in 1890, the federal government crackdown monopolies that were going on, they focused on railroad companies first because workers and farmers were mistreated because the workers did not

    Read More

  • The Progressive Era's Affect on Modern America

    1904 Words  | 4 Pages

    Where did some of modern America's issues originate from? The answer to that is the Progressive Era. The Legislation of that era laid all of the groundwork for today, and much of it is still in public debate today. Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson, three of the presidents from that era, all played roles in the groundwork. These presidents passed acts, tariffs, and amendments that are still with us, and debated today.

    Read More

  • The Progressive Era

    785 Words  | 2 Pages

    Reformers known as Progressives attempted to undo the problems caused by industrialization. The Progressive movement sought to end the influence of large corporations, provide more rights and benefits to workers, and end the control possessed by party leaders. At the national level, Progressivism centered on defeating the power of large businesses. The Progressive Era was a period in American history in which improving working conditions, exposing corruption, improving the way of life, expanding democracy, and making reforms were the objectives at hand. With the emergence of the Progressive Era, two important figures gradually emerged as well.

    Read More

  • The Progressive Era

    884 Words  | 2 Pages

    The turn of the century was marked by a movement known as the Progressive Era, during which many groups sought to reshape the nation's government and society in response to the pressure of urbanization and industrialization. Progressives were mainly members of the Post-Civil War generation that made an attempt to master a world much different then that of their parents.

    Read More

  • Reform and Society: The Progressive Era

    307 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Progressive Era was the period of reform and social activism from 1895 to 1920, it was an attempt to get rid of all the ills that had penetrated American society during the Gilded age. The Progressives were people who tried to make the life of the average American better, they believed in the ability of humans to create a better world. Industrial capitalism, burgeoning cities, the influx of immigrants, and the depression of the 1890s were some of the sources of the reform impulse of the era. The Progressives were primarily middle class citizens such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, businessmen, etc. Many of them were part of the Republican and Democratic parties. They were greatly influenced by the Europeans.The Progressives believed

    Read More

  • The Progressive Movement In The Early Twentieth Century

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Progressive Movement, lasting from 1901-1920, was a time of great change in America. Originating as a response to corporate and political corruption at the turn of the century, progressives emphasized improving American society by taming capitalism. However, with this political and economic reform came social injustice. While America made great strides towards new and more efficient business, banking, and politics, the early twentieth century showed conservative approaches to issues like racial, ethnic, and religious equality.

    Read More

  • Progessives and The Pure Food and Drug Act

    859 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the turn of the century America entered a new age that many historians call the Progressive Era. During this time period, the American Political system changed its view on how America should be brought about. It provided a purification of the American government through direct democracy. This era included many social and political reforms, which were brought about due to monopolies, and trust corporations.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Progressive Era And The New Deal Era

    1652 Words  | 4 Pages

    Thesis The Progressive Era and the New Deal Era had a significant amount of similarities with policies and programs to reform the American society and improve lives and fight poverty in America. Although the Progressive and New Deal Era had many similarities, there were still differences between them. Both the Progressive and the New Deal Era’s main goal was to improve American society. Both of the Progressive and New Deal’s accomplishments were rooted in the economic depression and the need for change before the era, the Guilded age in the 19th century for the Progressive era, and the Great Depression for the New Deal era. As the Guilded Age was ending, and the Progressive Era was emerging, most American families had to live with the harsh reality of sweatshops, slums, child labor, corruption in government and businesses, disease, and racial prejudice.

    Read More

More about The Progressive Era

Open Document