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Progressivism: A Social Movement

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A term that has been applied to a variety of responses to the economic and social problems rapid industrialization introduced to America is Progressivism. Progressivism had started out as a social movement and grew into a political movement. The progressives from the early stages had rejected Social Darwinism. In other words, they were classified as individuals who believed that the problems society was facing at the time (poverty, violence, greed, racism, class warfare) were best to be handled by providing a better education, safe environment, and an efficient workplace. Progressives lived mainly in the cities and were educated individuals. These people had believed that the government could be a tool for change. Social reformers such as …show more content…

They were a group of journalists that sought out to expose corruption practices in government and shed light on business scandals. “Muckrakers examined every facet of American life, delving into corporate and government malfeasance as well as poking to social and domestic problems such as child abuse, drunkenness, and prostitution” (LP 75). Miserable working conditions of large industries along with issues of concentration of wealth were exploited by this group. Henry Ford had introduced a lucrative pay scale for his workers during Progressive era. Among prominent ladies were Lucy Burns- an advocate of women 's rights, and Jane Adams- a social worker and first women winner of the Noble Peace Prize. As regards goals of Progressivism, one of them was 'social welfare ' aiming to provide social justice to everyone. It strived to eliminate differences in social classes. They also promoted the idea of charity and welfare by large organizations. For this purpose a large force comprising social workers was prepared and trained to perform their task effectively. Second goal of Progressivism was 'promotion of moral improvement ', for example women 's Suffrage by providing women the right to vote. Certain prohibition laws were introduced, for example Progressive leaders were of the view that usage of alcohol limited thinking and working of a person. Third goal was to provide 'economic reforms ' by regulating especially large corporations to ensure independence and remove restrictions imposed by capitalism. The fourth main goal of Progressivism was 'efficiency '. Among other ideas, it included creating professional city manager to run affairs at local, state, and national level more effectively. All of these goals played a significant role in

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Reformists wished for people in office to be morally responsible. I believe it is important that reformists didn’t entirely shy away from politics. Instead, they learned how to use persuasion to make more change in the right direction. The reformists conformed to the way of gaining followers because it seemed like the only way to work. They made alcohol and slavery a major issue in politics and were able to stop postal workers from working on

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The progressives, wanted to create a society that acted as one. The idea of being an individual was something to be forgotten in order to create a more perfect civilization of order and pureness. During this time of the progressive movement, the rest of society began to reject it ideology of their message and goals of non­pleasure and work. Especially around the Carina Arreola History 1302 W.Wooten time of World War One, the Great depression, and the New Deal.

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This method shows how the program is helped people out of education and finding jobs. This shows how the reformers had goals and method for assisting the poor. In conclusion, reformers had goals and methods to achieve their goals. The reformers goal were women suffrage and assisting the poor.

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The party was formed in 1912 by the urban middle class, who were displeased with all of the corruption in politics. This party was very successful at achieving what the Populists could not. They succeeded at getting laws passed to restrain immigration, set up a postal savings banks, limiting work days to eight-hours, and set up an initiative, referendum, and recall. The Progressives also had several amendments passed, the sixteenth, allowing for the graduated income tax, the seventeen, enforcing the direct primary that was passed by the Populists, the eighteenth, staring the prohibition on alcohol, and the nineteenth, allowing everyone to vote regardless of their gender. Much of the Progressives success was due to muckrakers.

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Progressives pursued battles over issues like government regulation of the economy and democratic reform of the electoral process. Some of them worked for women suffrage, others for temperance, and still others for immigration restriction, government inspection of foods and drugs, or the improvement of wages and working conditions. Several politicians that occupied government offices also worked to end corruption in law enforcement, public transportation and other city services. Also, political powers of the voters were increased by legislation which gave them additional powers such as recall of a person from public office before his or her term ended. Under referendum laws the voters could pass laws without the need for the state legislatures

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Workers felt unappreciated and that without rising up against their employers, they would be left starving,homeless, or dead. Workers wanted more money, an eight hour workday, safe working conditions, and protection against wage cutting. A couple of reformers during the Progressive Era were Jane Addams and Jacob Riis. Both worked toward helping the immigrants, women, children, and the poor working class. Jane Addams was a reformer who opened a settlement house to help the less fortunate.

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After the Civil War, our country was battered and beaten, but it rebuilt itself over time and spread its policies, as well as manufacturing practices, throughout our country. Early in the 20th century, members of our nation started to look at some of these practices and policies and began to question their merit and whether they assisted our population or not. Many people were involved in the progressive movement in America from the presidents to a slew of popular authors and photographers. The one thing that they had in common was that they saw problems with how various industries in our nation performed that they knew needed to be fixed. They did not always agree on everything, such as immigration, but they always had the nation’s best interest at heart.

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The early 1900s were a time of widespread social and political change in America. During this time, many Americans adopted new, more modern ideas about labor, cultural diversity and city life. Some of these Progressive ideas were brought about by the need for reform in the workplace due to the grown of large companies and rapid industrialization. Not everyone supported the ideas of the Progressive Movement, however. Anti-Progressives, especially in the South, preferred traditional, rural lifestyles, and a slower, simpler way of living.

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From 1896 to 1924, America went through a period known as progressivism in which people of all walks of life banded together to oppose conservatism and reform society. Progressives generally believed that government is necessary for change, however; it had to more significantly embody the ideals of democracy. Some of the specific changes that progressives wanted were regulating railroads, a direct election of senators, graduated income tax, limited immigration and eight-hour workdays. By supporting these changes, the progressives hoped to promote and expand democracy and thus give the people more power.

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Before the Progressive Era, women were at home most of the day, and their main purpose was to have children. However, during the Progressive Era, women wanted to be in control of their destiny when it came to childbirth, and therefore created a movement to increase the use of birth control. This movement was led by Margaret Sanger, who believed that women should be able to control their lives instead of men. She led many protests and also distributed large amounts of birth control to spread her ideas. Before these movements, men created laws that prevented women from controlling their destiny, and through the ABCL (which she founded)

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The Gilded age was a period in the late 1800s (1865-1900) that showed tremendous increase of wealth caused by the industrial age. The lifestyle of the rich during this period hid the many problems of the time that eventually brought about the progressive era movement. This was a movement for reform between 1900-1920s. Progressives typically held that the irresponsible actions of the rich were corrupting both public and private life. Forces such as immigration, the Populist Party and industrialization that led to the progressive era also impacted the American government both in its activeness and its democracy.

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The reformers were established to cure the problems of city, state, and nation. Political activists were there to provide facilities and stable government to the people. First, the progressive reforms were acted out of concern about the effects of industrialization and the conditions of industrial life. Then after their viewpoints were varied, their goals were to humanize and regulate big business, not to harm it. The attitudes of the reformers and political activists then turned to progressive works.

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The “Progressive Movement was an early-20th century reform movement seeking to return control of the government to the people, to restore economic opportunity, and to correct injustices in American life.” (Danzer R54). The Progressive Era marked the end of the “Gilded Ages” and a start of a new era. The Progressive Era started in 1901 in the United States (Fagnilli 26). There were many major reforms in the Progressive Era that altered and advanced American society.

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Some might say that the Progressive Era is done and over with, never to be enacted again. This is simply not the case. The United States has had the Progressive Era, but the ideals have always been on our minds as we fight for what we stand for. The Modern Progressive Movement, as several news sources have called it, has either started (NY Times in November 2011 cites Occupy Wall Street as the beginning), or that we are in desperate need of it (Washington Monthly explained in January/February of this year). People don't just stop fighting for human rights and equality, especially Americans; Equality was written in our Declaration of Independence.

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1318 Words | 6 Pages

Progressivisms Changes Throughout America Progressivism is a vastly important topic in one’s life and today’s government, and it affects every person’s life more than they may even know. Progressivism started in the United States, a country filled with corruption and greed, but its ideas looked to release our country from these terrible ideas and bring in a new age of progress. Its ideas have continued to help the U.S. reform and review laws and other regulations in order to give our country 's government, and its people, relief from the trap of bad leaders and those leaders making poor decisions, which affect everyone in a negative way. Progressive ideas have led our country to elect better leaders and, with those better leaders, use them to make

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