Characteristics Of The Progressive Movement

During the late 19th century and early 20th century the progressive movement and populist movement were groups and organizations getting together to resolve social, economic, and political problems occurring in the United States. Both movements had different approaches to what was more important and how to deal with problems. Progressivism was mainly for the betterment of cities while populism is for agrarian section of farmers.

The Federalists called this act as unconstitutional on the basis that the Congress may “regulate trade with foreign nations, and among the several states…” To regulate trade implies that some trade is allowed. Congress completely banned trade with foreign nations so the Embargo Act of 1807 was clearly unconstitutional. Daniel Webster, a Federalist, said in a speech,

Progressivism began in the early 1900s. It had roots in several earlier movements such as the Liberal Republican and the Mugwumps. Progressivism centered in cities. Progressives were middle class and well educated. Progressives stayed in the political mainstream. They aimed not to remake American society, but to merely make the existing system work better and to do this they were willing to make compromises. Progressivism offered the middle class, business leader, and farmers a safe reform. By 1900 the American economy was strong. As a result people of all classes felt more confident and more willing to compromise. Progressives made city and state governments more democratic. They also tightened regulations on business. For Progressives, honest and efficient government was an important goal, but not the ultimate one. They saw government as a tool to be used to promote the welfare of all citizens. Regulating business was, for both city and state governments, a major part of that task. Progressives passed more laws aiming at protecting various groups, especially children.

At the turn of the century the United States of America was launched into the Progressive Era, which called for massive reform across a variety of areas such as, politics, social life, and economics. Through 1900 and 1920, progressive reformers in the presidency and congress brought about reform from the federal level to the national level.

The progressive movement is a middle class response to take on the problems that was caused by the industrialization in the rapid social change that took place during the civil war. It is a collection of reform movements. The progressive era was when reformers or activists who were working to solve the problems in the American society and the government were trying to end the laissez-faire. The root of progressive started during the glided age. This era started in 1890 and ended in 1920. A solution was needed to eliminate all the problems that was faced over the years. The fight for social justices include social reforms, women’s suffrage movement, and political reforms.

The progressive movement was very successful in reforming american society ,the progressive movement was trying to help people in there everyday lives. It helped put laws in place that benefit people. It was successful in making workers rights and creating the food and drug act. Also making better living conditions.

The progressive movement developed in the early 1900’s in response to the problems caused by the age of industry. Between the 1890 and 1920, the progressive era was an attempt to solve the economic and social problems. These problems lead the nation to a downfall. The main goal of the progressive era was to expand the democracy, change unfair business practices protect consumers and eliminate social ills. Although there were problems many laws and acts were developed the solve them.

It required that all prices must be reasonable and just, rates must be publically posted, outlawed all secret rebates and deals, and price discrimination against smaller companies was now made illegal. While the act promised many changes to reduce the domination of the railroad monopolies, it was not enforced as pro-railroad commissioners were appointed by most of the later presidents. The next act passed by congress in 1890 called Sherman Antitrust Act. The objective of the act was to ban trusts and other contracts that restrained free trade. Much like the Interstate Commerce it was not enforced at all. In fact it was used to help the railroad monopolies even more by regulating labor unions. The very pro-business Supreme Court would rule that strikes violated the prohibition against “a conspiracy in restraint of trade.” In the act. This was the opposite intent of the act, and would not be properly enforced until the early

The Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 is federal law in the United States. It was designed to regulate the railroad industry especially its monopolistic practices. A number of states in US such as Ohio had unsuccessfully attempted to regulate railroads before 1887. Ohio had created a state commission to report on railroad and telegraph rates in 1867 but the commission did not have the authority to change rates or to order the railroad companies to change their policies. Due to failure of states to regulate railroads, the Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887. The Act required that railroads charge fair rates to their customers and make those rate public.

The progressive movement was primarily a reform movement. The movement was pivoted to cure many of the problems of the American society that had developed during the great emission of industrial growth in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. In this Era, the boundary had been restrained, great nations and businesses developed as well as overseas empire established but all citizens were entitled to share the new wealth, optimism and prestige. Therefore, the main goals of the movement were to eradicate the problems cause by immigration, urbanization, industrialization as well as corruption in the government. The movement was succeeded by several progressives who included politicians, writers as well as social welfare advocates who ensured that society would develop as a result of government action.

In 1898, there were reports in which stated that Armour & Co. supplied rotten canned beef to the U.S. Army. This occurred during the Spanish American War. Many troops became ill as a result which meant that they were unable to fight. This devastating event captured the attention of the public and brought awareness to the issue of foods being processed in unsanitary conditions. As a result of this, the Senate formed the Pure-Food Investigating Committee in 1899. This committee held hearings in which it was discovered that the processed foods were adulterated and unsafe for consumers.

President Roosevelt had a domestic policy in which he created the "Square Deal" under it. Roosevelt not only had a domestic policy but also a foreign policy that would improve the navy and he would also built the Panama Canal with that policy. The "Square Deal" had three main goals, which were to

The Sherman Antitrust Act was enacted on July 2nd, 1890 which prohibits activities that restrict interstate commerce and competition in the marketplace.

I believe the driving forces behind the progressive movement were women of the era. Women such as Jane Addams, Margaret Sanger, and Alice Stone Blackwell devoted their lives to reforming the world and creating change in the political sphere. The beginnings of the progressive movement in the United States had its start in the early 1800’s, but didn’t really start gaining ground until the late 19th century when a new middle class tired of the excesses of the Gilded Age. This era brought about fortunes and extreme poverty, labor clashes between working class and companies, large-scale immigration, and other events that made the middle class nervous.

5. The progressive movement Era saw for some reaching goals include eliminating government corruption, granting suffrage for women, and passing antitrust legislation. They were fighting for diverse and energetic movements to try and improve the American life for the people. There are some strengths and weaknesses of the Progressivism movement. During the late nineteenth century the progressives were pushing for government to intervene in businesses because their looking into working conditions of their employees.