Progressive Movement Dbq

Peter Girgis

Period 1

The Progressive Movement

Through 1890 to 1920 American Social reform called themselves progressives. The conception of Progressives was that they could make social and economic reforms. The Progressives were college educated and believed that government could be a tool for change in America. While the Industrial Revolution caused many social and political issues, the Progressive Movement solved these problems by informing by informing the public and passing series of legislation like Child labor, Meat Inspection Act, and Women Suffrage.

At the dawn the Progressive Movement, many objectives were set. One objective was to get rid of Big Business. For too long business had been involves in the government, and the progressives

Wilson Inaugural Address was very important in gaining the attention of Americans. In his speech he says, “Our duty is to cleanse, reconsider to restore, to correct the evil” (Doc 2). A big part of the movement came from a group of journalists known as muckrakers. Theodore Roosevelt gave them this name because he felt that the muckrakers were making people discontented by pointing out what was wrong with society. The muckrakers felt that unless people got angry about society wrongs, then they would not fight for change. One of the most influential muckrakers of this time was Ida Tarbell. She spent five years of her life researching her expose of the Standard Oil Company. In the book "The History Of The Standard Oil Company" she describes the firm's cut-throat methods of eliminating competition. Another influential Muckraker at this time was Upton Sinclair. He wrote the book The Jungle. In this book he describes in graphic detail the lives of stockyard workers and the operations of the meat packing industry. He says, “They would die and then the died rats bread and meat would go into the hoppers together” (Doc 6). This book was very popular as it got national attention and brought everyone’s attention to what they were

They fought for many rights we have today. The Muckrakers Exposed the truths about many problems but got two big reforms passed, Pure Food and Drug Act, and Meat Inspection Act. The biggest reform and amendment was the 9 Amendment. Alice Paul and Lucy Burns had met in England where they became involved with the struggle for women’s rights in that nation. Both participated in public activities in support of women’s equality, and both were jailed several times in London. The Congressional Union soon became the National Woman’s Party, and together with the NAWSA, they lobbied Congress for passage of the amendment. During the 1916 presidential election, the women campaigned vigorously against Woodrow Wilson’s refusal to support the women’s suffrage amendment. Alice Paul and Lucy Burns we not the only women suffrage advocate there were many. Rose Schneiderman was an advocate she released a statement saying “ Women in the laundries stand for 13 and 14 hours in the terrible steam and heat with their hands in hot starch. Surely these women wont lose any more of their beauty and charm by putting a ballot in the box” (Doc 7). He explains to people that women are Feminine enough to work those kind of jobs than voting wont make them any less women like. On June 4, 1920 in Washington Women suffrage won 2 thirds vote and won the 19 Amendment. Furthermore, Progressives were successful in many more reforms. According to