Post on 07-Aug-2015
Monaye Turner Dr. Iber
Essay 1: Progressive Era
The Progressive era caused America to change due to the social and economic stress that
the U.S was enduring. The progressive era shows how America changed as a whole
causing the country to truly become the United States.
The Progressive Era was a period of reform between 1880’s-1920, in response to the
economic and social conditions of the late19th century the Progressives had a great
impact on the United States during this time. Progressives sought out for the purification
of politics by trying to expose the rise of political machines (Boss Tweed). Progressives
also tried to exclude certain groups from being apart of the political voting. Those groups
included African Americans, illiterates, and any others that potentially increase
immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. Progressive gained support form the
middle class which included lawyers, teachers, and “white collar” workers. The
movement was successful at a local level and later progressed to a national level. During
the progressive era changes occurred that impacted America then and continues to affect
the county today. Prohibition was supported by the Progressives in order to destroy the
political power based in saloons allover the country. The progressives were committed to
change and constantly moving forward, which caused them to be a major force in the
political realm. With the 16th Amendment which called for the direct election of senators,
the 17th which said the senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators
from each state, elected by the people there of, six years, and each senator shall have one
vote, and the 18th Amendment which prohibited the manufacture, sale, transportation, and
distribution of alcohol (prohibition). Along with the Amendments progressives helped
pass they also bring about new ideas like income tax.
During the 1900’s most people lived out in the rural areas and farming was the main
source of income. Farming still remained a great source of income in the late 1920’s but
more people moved out of the rural areas and into the city like New York. In the 1900’s
the U.S is just becoming an industrial power and goes through a series of economic
downfalls. The 1900’s was a period of mass production and mass consumption. During
the 1920’s the big business will rise, companies like Standard Oil and Carnegie Steel will
take over the small companies and employ more people than ever seen before this time.
During the 1920s Progressives will push for women suffrage, social reforms, and laborers
rights.
The Progressive Era looked to change America socially and economically. Through the
many reforms the progressives were able to help change America to what we know now.
The introduction of income tax, the additions to the constitution, and social justices like
women suffrage caused America to move out of what they knew and into what we would
now consider America. The change between they 1900’s and the 1920’s is brought out by
the out right migration of people from the rural areas in America to the big cities. When
the people moved so did the issues. The progressives noticed these issues and sought out
to expose as many as they could.