The Progressive Era was a time period where people known as Muckrakers exposed the problems of everyday people like the poor living conditions while the progressives tried different ways to fix those problems. During this time, there were also six goals that they focused on protecting social welfare, promoting moral improvement, improving efficiency and labor, creating economic and government reforms. One of the major reforms of this time was the Social Welfare reform which helped to improve some of the problems that people faced such as poor housing, lack of education, and social welfare for women. In 1890, Jacob Riis published a book called How the Other Half Lives which exposed the harsh and poor living conditions of immigrants in tenement
That the social welfare policies is more caring for the poor because back in the 1930's it was a largely private system of charity collapsed in the face of many because of the widespread economic destitution of the federal government which created the beginning of an American welfare state. Also the social welfare system was a new program that was put into place which gave the national government the power to oversee the programs and gave the government the security for all Americans, economic and the poor. Although the social welfare includes many different polices enacted over many years since the Great Depression which has change the system back in 1935 it was entirely private which composed of an extensive system of voluntary philanthropy
Welfare America, home of the brave, the free, and the blessed! In this country many programs have been established to help those in need. One of these programs is welfare. Welfare is a public assisting aid, which gives citizens who live in the minimal level of poverty free money. This program is funded from the taxes payed by all working Americans.
Like the bike you bought after saving lawn-mowing money for a year, welfare reform was the prized trophy of the conservative governing philosophy. We believed that we’d found the vehicle of social mobility for poor Americans, once and for all. No one should live on taxpayer money without doing some work on their own, right? Everyone agrees, right? Wrong.
In the year 2014, “48.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households, including 32.8 million adults and 15.3 million children” (FeedingAmerica.org). Welfare is in existence to prevent these statistics from occurring. It is to provide homes and nutrition to those whom cannot receive said necessities without government support. However, several Americans take advantage of this system, leading welfare to appear as a mockery to the onlookers. If welfare is removed from the American country, then this statistic would grow catastrophically year by year.
Question 1 Rise of the American welfare state The history of state welfare in the US can be described as one of continued growth and gradual change over the decades. In the early 1920s, America was literally a very prosperous nation as savings during that period had quadrupled. Millions of Americans were able to own their own homes in what was described by industrialists as a ’housing boom’. There was increased mobility for farmers and industrial workers since automobiles were no longer a luxury just for the rich; this was especially due to the aggressive advertising that became more rampant in the lives of moderate Americans.
Introduction “How The Other Half Lives,” was written by Jacob A. Riis and published in 1890 by Charles Scribner’s Sons. Jacob Riis had one reason for writing this book, and that was to expose to the upper class people of America the deplorable conditions of the tenements, and the gross abuses committed by the landlords who owned them; and to this he proposed a series of ways to correct the then current situation. This book became revolutionary during it ’s it time when immigration was at an all time high, and terrible tenements were popping up all around the city; it takes on this issue of the tenement with a ferocity that shocked all of America, and lead the way for reform .
In the 1930's, when citizens in the U.S. were in most urgent need for a change, they elected Franklin Delano Roosevelt because of his promises in his first inaugural address of "action". Roosevelt observed the ever-increasing class divide as one of the sources of the Great Depression and set out to redistribute the welfare. The redistribution would only happen with increased government control and the wealthy letting go of their 'liberty' as they claimed. Roosevelt strove to please all, but his focus was to avail those in need, as can be discerned from his primary programs, though his central aid was focused on white laborers. This lack of provision for minorities can be tied back to his need to please all, but his slow action fostered inequality
Much of the writing that has been published regarding the Progressive era has helped propel it forward as a time of “prosper, middle-class control,” in the minds of young Americans across the nation. Generally considered a highpoint of American political history, the Progressive era has been a benefactor of positive reporting in textbooks through much of history. Although, its alleged connection to socialism caused a significant change in reporting during the years of the Second Red Scare. In examination of five U.S. History textbooks spanning from 1930 through 2011, it is easy to see common themes that historians have kept through the years, as well as how current events played into the writing of history. As we have experienced, recent
Review The progressive era in the early twentieth century was a period of severe social and economic inequality. Progressivism was a reaction to a variety of problems that were becoming more known to the public. It was a time in which many Americans found themselves between class lines and often felt a loss of identity. McGerr a professor of history at the University of Indiana explains the “four quintessential progressive battles: to change other people; to end class conflict; to control big business; and to segregate society” At the same time the great wealth and prosperity for the “upper ten” was being noticed throughout the country.
Abusing the System Ronald Reagan states, “We should measure welfare’s success by how many people leave welfare, not by how many are added” (qtd. in BrainyQuotes). Welfare’s success today is not being measured by how many people are leaving welfare, but how many are needing assistance. The problem is that recipients of welfare are being added by the minute, and none of them are willing to leave the program because of the benefits it provides. The United States Constitution states the federal government should provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare, but the case is that many recipients are abusing the program (Couch np). Welfare abuse is increasing greatly.
During the late 1980’s Ronald Reagan wanted to advocate self-independence and advancement. He believed too that he needed to sign into the law of welfare bill. Regan stated “reform that will lead to lasting emancipation from welfare dependency” (Davies, 1). Unfortunately, the welfare reform didn’t get its message through which was to promote self-responsibility and self-support. During the 1960 and 1970 the ideals of liberalism were not spoken about.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Second New Deal brought about the American Welfare State. This was a program that helped create help for people struggling in the United States. Under the Social Security Act of 1935, unemployment insurance, and old age pensions became possible. Help was also offered to elderly, families with dependent children, and those with disabilities.
The Progressive Era was a period of major causes and various movements, where reformers and different advocates from different backgrounds and with very different agendas mind sets followed their goals for a better America. The Progressive Movement came about on a local and state level around the 1890’s. The Progressive movement became a force on the local level around the 1890’s because of movements like The Social Settlement Movement. The City Governments caused some of the first successes for Progressive reformers. They Exposed city officials, and replaced some of their leaders.
The Progressive Era was a movement from the late 19th century to the early 20th century where many people in the United States tried to reform political, social, and economic injustices. This might sound like a good thing, but most of the movement was filled with corruption and ulterior motives. The Progressive movement was not entirely clean; while there were selfless reformers, many reformers only wanted reform if it suited them. Using the historical interpretations of George Mowry, Joseph Huthmacher, and James J. Connolly, I will explain who the progressives were and what their reformed society entailed. I will also state what historian is most persuasive and why.
The three main debates include pooling/ socialization of risk, the presumed conflict between equality and efficiency, and whether the existence of the welfare state stimulates of shows the economy. For efficiency and equality the conflict is what the outcome of the economy will be. The concern is that the market system will damage and crumble if more social programs that give to the poor are created, because it will lead to higher taxes and stricter regulations. Production will be cost effective, therefore producing fewer