Progressive Era Dbq

During the 1900s to the 1920s, progressive reformers and the federal government were able to transition through a nearly complete reform at the national level. They were successful in areas concerning trusts, child labor, and women’s suffrage; however, they lacked the skill set to address issues concerning the civil rights movement. Their successful accomplishments helped millions of middle class Americans prosper economically. In addition, they also emphasized a need to take part in politics so that elected officials will react to the public’s concerns. Overall, the progressive presidents were successfully able to bring reform to the national level for the.

Throughout the Progressive Era, the United States government began to take action

Due to the fact that industry grew so rapidly and work in factories was the main source of income for majority of families, more and more children were working. Many social reformers and educators spoke out about the detrimental mental and physical effects child labor had on most of America’s youth (Doc C). In 1816, during Wilson’s presidency, the Child Labor Act was passed, outlawing companies from utilizing the skill set of children under the age of fourteen. Activists such as Jane Addams and questions regarding the innocence children in the workfield, helped the Child Labor Act pass with relative ease. Also, earlier within the century, in 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act was passed, further ensuring the quality and safeness of American processed foods. This act driven largely on behalf of writer, such as Neill-Reynolds, who argued about the unsanitary working conditions factory workers dealt with on a daily basis. He wrote, “meat [was] shoveled from filthy wooden floors, piled on tables rarely washed, pushed from room to room in rotten box carts...[and exposed to] dirt, splinters, floor filth, and the expectoration of tuberculosis.” (Doc B). It can be concluded that during the Progressive Era, ideas that had been proposed for decades, were finally put into

As W.E.B. DuBois wrote in The Crisis, America was still “a shameful land” for the black community (Doc I). Although African-American fought with pride till death for the U.S. during World War One, they returned home to face brutality and devilish insults; in general they lacked the much deserved respect as war heros. Progressive presidents made a limited public effort, out of either racists beliefs or fear of losing their popularity, to shed light on the subjects of segregation and discrimination. Teddy Roosevelt in particular was shamed for having Booker T. Washington invited for an official dinner at the White House, from then on he did all his reform for African Americans in private. Little was changed for African Americans in the period 1900 to 1920. The limits of reform can be witnessed in the dramatic drop of voter turn outs. In 1900, 73% of eligible voter voted, while in 1920 only 49% voted (Doc. J). It is clear that nearing 1920, more and more voters were less enthused by reformers and their lack of focus towards weakening the effects of segregation, therefore, it comes as no surprise that they found a lesser need to