Conservatism In The Progressive Era

Progressivism was a broad-based movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in United States. It was a response to the social and economic challenges brought about by industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. Progressives believed that government had a responsibility to intervene in the economy and society to protect the right of workers, consumers, and other vulnerable groups. The movement was characterized by a wide range of social and political reforms, including regulation of business practices, expansion of democracy, conservationism, and social welfare programs. Progressives were also concerned with moral and cultural issues such as Prohibition, which sought to reduce the harms associated with alcohol consumption.

President Theodore Roosevelt established the United States Forest Service in 1905 and signed the Antiquities Act of 1906, which allowed for the protection of public lands. The National Park Service was created in 1906, which allowed for the protection of public lands. The National Park Service was created in 1916 to manage and protect the nation’s parks.Conservatism during the Progressive Era was not only limited to preserving natural resources. It also encompassed a desire to preserve traditional social and political institutions. The conservatism of this time sought to preserve the status quo, while the progressives aimed to reform society and politics.This led to a conflict between the two groups, with the conservatives often opposing progressive reforms. Despite this tension, conservation movement, for instance, drew support from both conservatives and progressives. Both groups recognized the importance of preserving natural resources for future generations, albeit for different reasons. The conservative values of the Progressive Era can also be seen in the push for American exceptionalism. This belief held that the United States was a unique and superior nation, and that its institutions and way of life should be preserved and promoted. This ideology influenced many of the policies and actions of the era, from the establishment of the Forest Service and National Park Service to the nation’s involvement in World War I. Overall, conservatism was a key component of the Progressive Era, shaping the movement’s views on natural resource conservation, traditional institutions and American