Progressivism: The Progressive Movement

The Progressive Era was a period of widespread reform and social activism across the United States, from 1890 to 1920. The Progressive Movement was initiated as a response to political and corporate abuses. Progressivism was characterized by a series of movements, each of them aimed in one way or another at renovating or restoring American society, its values, and institutions. At the turn of the twentieth century, progressives boldly fought for social, political, and economic problems. Some of the reforms addressed by the progressives were electoral change, women's suffrage, child labor, and working conditions. Many progressives wanted more democracy in society. Two important objectives of Progressivism were giving the public the opportunity to participate more directly in the political process and limiting the power of big city bosses. The governor of Wisconsin, Robert La Follette, criticized how political parties ran their conventions. He pressured the state legislature to require each party to hold a direct primary, a party election

Many adult workers labored in difficult and dangerous conditions. This caused for health and safety codes. Health and safety codes dealt with unsafe conditions. Zoning laws such as lighting, room size and land use, were created to protect the citizens. Workers and citizens were more safe and had better conditions. The Adamson Act established the 8 hour workday for railroad workers. Workers worked less and were more safer because of these reforms.
Reformers also advocated for legislation regulation on child labor. There became a requirement for minimum age for kids to work. This allowed more kids to get enrolled in school. The Keating-Owen Child Labor Actprohibited empolyemtnb of children uder 14 in facories producing goods for interstate commerce. This labor reform caused kids to go to school to get a proper education instead of working in the harsh conditions in