'Corporatism' In The Progressive Era

As the Gilded Age was ending, and the Progressive Era was emerging, most American families had to live with the harsh realities of sweatshops, slums, child labor, corruption in government and businesses, disease, and racial prejudice. People started to realize that change and reform were needed, that was when muckrakers came in trying to expose and show citizens the corruption in government and business, and also the terrible conditions of the working class Americans. Soon after the muckrakers published numerous articles, books, and photographs, people demanded change. Through individual and group actions, they were able to achieve this and get policies and programs enacted.

The progressive era was a time period during 1890-1913 when the United States was at the tip of changing its lifestyle to something better for everyone, especially the poor. During the 1920s, 105 million immigrants had come to the United States hoping for a better lifestyle, however that brought a drastic change in the demand of products needed in the US, which led businesses to focus on the quantity, rather than the quality. Although this urbanization brought industrialization, most of those immigrants were disgusted by the kind of lifestyle they lived which Muckrakers helped improve. Muckrakers, a term used to call those people who bring awareness to the corruption in our society during that time period and were often journalists. This name

The progressive Era was times in History were local state and federal government took a leap forward in power and activism. In addition, the progressive era, was a time of development of new reforms and changes for America. Progressivism handles a wide range of problems and struggle for America. Such problems were created by unstructed industrialization, urbanization and immigration. As well as, the unfavorable distribution of power and wealth. Progressives believed strongly that problems such as these needed immediate action. Progressives existed in churches, organized labor, local political life, organizations and progressives of high education. Progressives wanted to make America better through inniatives, arranged action, idealism and social scientific research. Progressive had a tendency to expect the best possible outcome of situations. By, the 1920’s, progressives put in effect, changes of all aspects of society and government. Nevertheless, progressives had unhonorable qualities as well. They were biased of class and prejudiced against races.

The Progressive Era was a time period between the years 1900-1920 and it marked a time in American history in which society was bursting with enthusiasm to improve life in the industrial age by making political and social changes through government action that ultimately led to a higher quality of life for American citizens. Progressives were known for their beliefs in limiting the power of big business, strengthening the power of the states, and were advocators against corruption and social injustice. These progressive reformers as well as the Federal Government successfully managed to improve the quality of life and establish a precedent for a move active government, although neither was completely successful in solving significant

The middle and working classes were looked down upon by the wealthy capitalistic upper class. Muckrakers shed light on the shady business dealings the capitalistic upper class dealt in, and the corruption of politics. The society they showed made many Americans felt as though the fundamental principles and promises were violated. This is how progressivism was formed; a way to fix the broken society that many Americans now suffered in.

“There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.” (Woodrow Wilson) This quote from one of the most progressive presidents of all time, really represents what the progressives were after during their movement; during the Progressive Era, American citizens were looking for change socially, politically, and economically due to urbanization and industrialization. Although all 3 of the early 20th century presidents were progressive in their reforms, Theodore Roosevelt was the most progressive out of these because he regulated business, fought for labor reform, and conserved natural resources.

The turn of the 20th century sparked a movement of reform. It included large groups and individuals with a passion and desire to make life better during the industrial age. Their ideas and works were known as progressivism, as reformers wanted to improve, change, and build upon society, government, and much more. One of the biggest progressive groups to emerge during this time were the muckrakers. Samuel Hopkins Adams was one of the most important muckrakers during the Progressive Era.

The Progressive Era cannot be characterized by one single event or person, but it certainly experienced multiple events and people who swam with high velocity in the sea of reformation. People such as Jane Addams, Teddy Roosevelt, and W.E.B DuBois led the progressive movement with their outspoken ideas and impact on the era. Events and works such as The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, Muller vs Oregon, and the Clayton Antitrust Act stand out as important and pivotal to the era. Between 1900 and 1920, many successful attempts at progressive legislature were led to enact overall moral and social reform throughout the United States, as evident in the growth of democracy, regulation of business, as well as the growth of women’s and worker’s rights. While many successful outcomes are believed to have come about during this era, the clear outlier is that of the livelihood of the African Americans, and how the government turned its back on an entire race for the better part of the 20th century.

The Progressive Era was a thirty year period in which the United States was completely reformed. Actions were taken to improve working conditions for laborers, create a sexually unbiased work system and regulate the economy. President Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson both helped create a more direct democracy in which the people would have a voice. During those thirty years, amendments 16 to 19 were ratified to regulate and reform the country. Muckrakers were writers who worked for the printing companies exposed the public to all of the corruption that was occurring both openly and behind closed doors. By exposing the public to the corruption, American society was enlightened and inspired to reform itself.

Muckrakers were one of the most successful groups during the Progressive era, their main goal was to raise awareness of social issues apparent in American society. Thus, their main goal was to bring justice to groups such as child labor. Primarily, the reporters found child labor laws as one of their most significant ventures in bringing justice to the community. Following publicized stories of child endangerment, unfair wages, grueling hours, and even death Progressives sought to intervene and were highly successful in making headway on regulating child labor. During the 1916 labor case, federal law proved successful in the Keating-Owen state of affairs that gave

The early to mid 1900s proved to be a whirlwind for politics and society as a whole. While there were a plethora of issues to be dealt with within the Progressive Era, one of the most noteworthy issues to discuss would be that of the working class and the businessmen of the first quarter of the 1900s. The reason why these two portions of society within the Progressive Era are the most relevant to discuss stems from the fact that during the Progressive Era there was a great gap between the upper-class (businessmen) and the lower-class (working class). It was during this time that the country was experiencing great changes to its political platform with several new types of initiatives being taken. The applicability of these reforms and initiatives during this era will be talked about.

At the turn of the century America entered a new age that many historians call the Progressive Era. During this time period, the American Political system changed its view on how America should be brought about. It provided a purification of the American government through direct democracy. This era included many social and political reforms, which were brought about due to monopolies, and trust corporations.

By the twentieth century, the rise of big business and the large migration of Americans from the countryside to the cities caused a shift in political awareness, as elected officials saw the need to address the growing economic and social problems that developed along with the urban boom. Progressives believed that the government needed to take a strong, proactive role in the economy, regulating big business, immigration, and urban

In reaction to the power the bourgeoisie have over the proletariat, the narrator uses her defense mechanism of acting out to get power over herself back. Acting out involves preforming external actions that mirror how one is internally feeling. This can be seen when the narrator breaks a rule in the manual, and seeks affection from her window friend in the male shelter. As she states, “Tonight, his light isn’t on and so we don’t wave, but still, I undress in front of my lit window. I can’t know if he’s watching from the darkness, or who else is watching, for that matter”(Cook 50). By undressing in the window, the narrator is showing the bourgeoisie that she is in control of her actions. Moreover, by changing her physical appearance, the narrator gains more control over her body. As she states, “For a couple of weeks I allow myself a little moment. I scrape other woman’s leftovers onto my plate. I eat the treats my old floor still sends, even though I don’t like them” (Cook 53). By increasing her food consumption, the narrator is making her self less desirable in the bourgeois lens; consequently limiting her chances of getting chosen by a wealthy person. Since she is in control of her desirability, this shows the narrators success in gaining power over her body and where she chooses to belong. Ultimately, through her defense mechanism of acting out, the narrator gains power over her actions and body back from the bourgeoisie.

Pluralism is a political theory that related to the acknowledgement for diversification that exist in society. Everyone has different views and appreciation for different value in life. Pluralism is a sign of theoretical standpoint on state ad power as well as resources. It depends on how it will be distributed in democratic state like United States of America (USA). Two famous name in mentioned by Manley (1983) in his article are Robert A. Dahl and Charles E. Lindblom. Pluralism in political system is open to multiple interests of different group in society. All (professional associations, environmentalist, business and financial lobbies etc) are governing the United