Monopolies During The Progressive Era

During the Progressive Era, many reforms were made in the attempt to fix the negative facets of America (Fagnilli 27). Progressives were reformers who supported ideas that attempted to make a change in society’s problems, such as corruption of government, women’s suffrage, and accessibility of education (The Progressive Era). These reformers lived mostly in urban areas, and therefore witnessed these issues first-hand, thus they believed that country could be mended by the government if it took responsibility for ensuring safe work conditions and environment, and education (The Progressive Era). Crucial to change in America, issues that were targeted by reforms had both positive and negative impacts, which indisputably changed America.

One main

The glittering appearance covered the corruption of government and other social issues (Mintz Overview). The contrast of appearance and the corruption underneath was generally in reference to the influence of monopolies and large businesses in government, as well as election fraud (Fagnilli 28). During the Gilded Age, the government was corrupted in all levels from local to national (Fagnilli 28). Though the state legislatures were elected, railroad companies and other large business greatly influenced the outcome of elections (Fagnilli 28). Because of the power carried by large companies with an abundance of money and the government, the Senate was often referred to as the “Millionaire’s Club” (Fagnilli 28). The goals put into place by the Progressives to end the political corruption were to end election fraud by creating a single ballot with all candidates listed on it

Until the Progressive Era, many minorities, including women, were denied what is now considered a basic right either through law or tradition. Women’s suffrage faced opposition due to fear from influential groups. For example, the liquor industry did not find it within their interest to support suffrage because of the fear of women voting for prohibition, which force their companies into bankruptcy (Danzer 522). The owners of textile factories were disturbed about the fact that women have been more likely than men to vote in favor of child labor restrictions (Danzer 522). These child labor restrictions could force the owners of companies to hire adult workers, who they viewed as more expensive and more likely to strike (Child). Otherwise, some feared that the government would be thrown into disarray by the change of the role of women in society (Danzer 522). The strategy put into place by advocates to obtain women’s suffrage involved three parts: convincing state legislatures, pursuing court cases to test the 14th Amendment, and push for national Constitutional Amendment (Danzer 522). By 1910, only Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Washington, and Idaho had granted suffrage to its women, though the women refused to give up, and eventually in 1920, women were granted the right to vote when the 19th Amendment was passed (Danzer