The Progressive Er The Progressive Era Of The 19th Century

The last decade of the nineteenth century (1890s) were filled with tensions and social issues that cried out for resolution. In the chapter on the Gilded Age (Carnegie, Ward, Sumner and Bryce) we argued on the exploitation of people and resources and moreover advocated that if actions had not been taken to improve the more blatant injustices in American society, the nation might have been led to rebellion. Indeed, the conflict was labelled as “the war between capital and labor” and which was filled with violence and huge property damage. Consequently, by the early years of 1900 America was a time bomb on its last tic. Cities were inhabited by millions of poor laborers, and working conditions were horrendous. From the local level to the highest

The Progressive Era (1890s to the 1920s,) was a period of reform, the nation’s answer to the industrial revolution. Its effects affected almost all Americans and changed the role of government in American society. Although some areas of American life, namely, racial issues and women 's rights, were neglected during the progressive age, the groundwork was laid for future reforms in those areas and others.

Although the Progressive Era was a hopeful time, following as it did the “Reckless Decade,” a sinister atmosphere nonetheless dominated much of the optimism at the turn-of-the-century. As Henry J. Sage claims, “Labor violence, industrial accidents, foreign intrigues and cultural disturbances were felt by much of the American population, and big businesses still seemed to be controlling people 's lives.” President Theodore Roosevelt did much to change the mood of Americans, but it was hard

Historian Sidney Milkis describes the accomplishments of the Progressive Era as “momentous reconstructions of politics,” a portrayal that similarly applies to the several social movements that intended to better align America’s political and social order with its principles of liberty, equality, and opportunity for all. Progressives have always concentrated their moral energy against social injustice, corruption, and inequality. Progressive movement was erected on a “vibrant grassroots foundation, from the Social Gospel and labor movements” to women’s suffrage and civil rights to environmentalism, antiwar engagement, and gay