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The Progressive Era Essay

1185 Words5 Pages

The fundamental values upon which the United States was established, are embodied in the preamble to the Constitution. It outlines the goals and aspirations that the American people's founding fathers were hoping to achieve. Further, it states that the purpose of the Constitution is to establish laws that promote welfare, liberty, prosperity, and a "more perfect" nation for Americans. Throughout history, America has made significant progress in upholding some ideals outlined in the preamble, such as providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare. However, when addressing justice, it becomes evident that these ideals have not been fully realized. America has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting its citizens and …show more content…

From the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, the Progressive Era implemented several reforms to improve economic and social issues. In 1920, the Sheppard-Towner Act was the first substantial government healthcare effort. It educated the public on the importance of enhancing the social and healthcare conditions for women and infants. Also, during this era, President Franklin D. Roosevelt put forward a series of laws and programs, called the New Deal, to combat the Great Depression. For example, the enactment of the Social Security Act of 1935 was a crucial step toward providing Americans with economic security. This legislation created a system of financial assistance to retirees, physically disabled workers, dependent mothers, children, and the unemployed insurance systems’. The Works Progress Administration (WPA), launched in 1935 as a component of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, was created to reduce unemployment and boost the economy during the Great Depression. Numerous infrastructure projects, such as the development of roads, bridges, public buildings, and parks, allowed unemployed workers to obtain paid jobs. Specifically, the series of social and government-funded programs took action to assist its citizens economically and as a result, had the beneficial effect of hiring approximately 8.5 million Americans to work on hundreds of public projects across the country. The WPA not only offered financial assistance, but it also helped create important public assets and enhanced the general welfare of the population. Although debates persist regarding the effectiveness of these programs, the nation has made efforts to improve the general welfare of its people as the preamble

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