Progressive Era Dbq

The Progressive Era was the period from 1890s to the 1920s. This historical movement was fueled by the middle class (e.g. doctors, lawyers, teachers); mainly those living in the cities. The country was growing and moving forward, yet, many Americans were falling behind. Poverty rose, big corporations became corrupt, and the minorities wanted to be treated equally. The Progressive Era led to America into a new realm with more amendments to the United States Constitution, social improvements for women suffrage and minority equality, and economic change in regard to regulations of big corporations. The political reform of the Progressive Era forced the government to get involved and make changes to the Constitution. The creation

Ida B.Wells, an African American woman, was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); she fought for her race and gender. Ida Wells joined forces with another African American, W.E.B. Dubois. Mr. Dubois wrote a declaration against the Atlanta Compromise – called the Niagara Movement. This movement wanted African Americans to stand up against humiliation, degradation and to not remain inferior to other races. With the country moving forward, many other Americans were unable to keep up financially. Upton Sinclair exposed how the poverty lived in the slums of Chicago and uncovered the insufficient sanitary conditions of the meatpacking industry. In response to this tension, government stepped in and formed the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act. Jane Addams was another great asset to the Progressive Era. She helped America improve on issues of public health and the welfare of children. The social impact of this era benefited the middle class women by recognizing women suffrage, minority inequalities, and facing the issues of

Robber Barons were big corporations that formed monopolies, like John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller controlled all aspects of the oil and petroleum industry. He used unethical practices that drove his competitors out of business. President Roosevelt became aware of this corruption and required government to regulate big corporations. With the increase of immigrants coming to America and the rise in technological advances, jobs were hard to come by. Many people were unemployed and those that were employed, worked long hours and for low wages. Often families would lie about their child’s age so that their child could get a job and help with the finances in the household. It was Mary Harris Jones that marched mill children to see the President, to show him how children have been exploited. The President did not see her or the children, but shortly after that display, legislature passed child labor laws. Also, due to the Panic of 1893 and 1907, people were left feeling uneasy about businesses and political movements, so under President Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom Plan, he started the Federal Reserve Act of 1903. The economy in the Progressive Era faced many challenges and thus change pursued, big businesses were regulated, child labor laws went into effect, and the Federal Reserve Act was formed to ease the minds of the middle