Essay on The Progressive Reformers

The Progressives made great efforts to solve the political problems that industrialization and urbanization were causing. They tried to wipe out political corruption by limiting power to big companies/ bosses and reduce the control of political machines. Many of the progressive reforms also supported the railroad legislation, conservation movement, and food and drug laws. This also included efforts to protect society by initiating prohibition and they also extended suffrage to women. The progressives succeeded at keeping the power of the railroad industry in the hands of the governments but failed at protecting the states right to control businesses. Finally in 1890 the first federal law was passed against monopolies known as the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

During the Progressive Era, pressure from labor, suffrage, and conservation movements profoundly changed the course of American history. Many of the reformers' ideas clashed with the male-dominated, capitalist economic structure present at the turn of the century. Some of the intended reforms opposed the current system, but the level of social unrest necessitated change. Businessmen and activists alike initiated the reforms during the Progressive Era. Government, due to the intention of calming the common man and quieting the seemingly more and more vocal middle class, supported them. In the final analysis, from the year 1900 to 1920, Progressive Era reformers were successful in bringing about reform to the United States.

In the first two decades of the twentieth century the national political scene reflected a growing American belief in the ideas of the Progressive movement. This movement was concerned with fundamental social and economic reforms and gained in popularity under two presidents. Yet Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson espoused two different approaches to progressive reform. And each one was able to prevail upon congress to pass legislation in keeping with his own version of the progressive dream. These two people, although they had different principles in mind, had one goal: to make changes to the nation for the better of the people and the country. Setting out to reach this goal, Roosevelt came to be a president of the common man while

The progressive era was a time period in America after reconstruction that took place from 1900 to 1920. The progressive era focused mainly on social and political reform, trying to fix America's economy by working towards equal conditions for individuals, stopping political corruption and increasing government intervention on social and economic issues. Progressivists were social activists and political reformers working to improve conditions and the treatment of the American people. They believed that the government could be a tool for change. Progressive reform started out as a social movement and later on took a more political stand. The progressive era was successful in the fight to reform the United States by improving industrialization, urbanization cities, and reforming America's social and gender classes.

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 era of progressive reform was short, 1900 to about 1917, but much was accomplished and done in this short time span. Evils like child labor and social ills were thought curable by progressive optimists like John Spargo and Upton Sinclair but the main focus was urban America. The progressive reform movement was a period of awareness where people sought to change the injustices of society for example, Anti-Trust laws, recognition of environmental destruction and conservation of national park land, and improving the American way of life through significant areas of reform like women’s suffrage.

The first goal that the progressives had was to expand the democracy. They did this by helping the people have a greater voice in the government. They did this by getting the 17th amendment and the 19th amendment passed. Also, at state level, voters were given a greater role in the government, voters were allowed to introduce a bill to the state legislature, voters can approve or reject a bill's place on a ballot, and voters can remove public officials from office. Furthermore, at local city governments limited the power of political machines by implementing civil service exams that were based on merit and ability for government positions. In addition, to help end unfair business practices and encourage competition a number of acts were passed. One act that was passed was the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The purpose of this act was to regulate railroads by outlawing pools and rebates, the outcome at first was not effective because the courts favored the interests of the railroads. Another act that was passed was the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. The purpose of this act was to encourage completion by outlawing trusts and monopolies. The outcome was not effective at all because it was difficult to enforce. Moreover, the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was another act that was passed. The main purpose of this act was to create a

Going along with this the reformers actually sort of worked together to achieve their goals. Many people were advocated for two or more of the movements and others at least agreed with or supported the other reformers. Something else that tied these people together was their use of nonviolence. Of course there are a few exceptions, but most of the reformers followed this principle. Lastly, all reformers sought after the common goal of ridding their lives of immorality. Everything the reformers wanted to get rid of was seen by them as immoral. All wanted a Utopian society.

An important reform for the Progressives, was women's suffrage. Their reforms reflected the goals that they had, which politically was to return

Which of the primary features of grassroots Progressivism was the most essential to the continued growth and success of the reformist movement? Why?

In the beginning of the twentieth century, the economy was booming, new technology flourished. The rapid industrialization brought achievement to the United States, however, it also caused several social problems. Wealth and power were concentrated in the hands of a few, and poverty and political corruption were widespread. As people became aware of these problems, a new reform group was created. Unlike populism, which had been a group of farmers grown desperate as the economy submerged into depression, the new reform movement arose from the educated middle class. These people were known as the progressives. The Progressive Movement was a movement that aimed at solving political, economic, and social problems. The Progressives were people

In my opinion, the most important reform during the Progressive Era was his antitrust policy. Monopolies and trust, most of the time are very bad for consumers. First, because their is only one company controlling them, they can set any price they choose regardless of the demand, because they know that the consumer has no other choice whatsoever. Considering this, they will raise cost for consumers leading to inflation. Now, one of the many problems caused by this marketing controlling, is that sadly, they have no economic reason to improve or revolutionize their product, which means that as long as they are up, consumers will not have any new product coming from them. Being so, when Teddy Roosevelt created the antitrust act, he immediately

Progressive time brought A large number reformations, in that, the public arena aided enormously. Similarly as those the managing for specific zones claiming pop culture turned into a need. Changed deliberations in the regions of the working environment such as living states in the urban communities. Throughout this Progressive period, they were powerful On making principles that produced safer living situations. Of course, this meant

Though the people of the progressive and reform era are labeled as progressives, the fact that they share a name does not mean that all their ideals were the same as well. Progressives were divided mainly into two camps and from those into even smaller ones. There were the progressives who wanted to go back to the good old days, those who wanted to preserve the way of life that was slipping through their fingers, and then there were those who wanted to address the changes by making changes. Some progressives felt that it was necessary to preserve the way of life that was fast disappearing in America. On the other hand some progressives felt that the government needed to be run differently because of all of the changes in public and private sector. Either way, change was part of the equation. The progressive era was composed of many people, each possessing one, two, or more of the many ideals that helped define the progressive era. It can be said however, that most progressive reformers were upper middle to upper class people for whereas the poor certainly saw the problems and recognized the need to solve them, there were not in a position where they could. Those who made up the progressive front were educated

Many legislative solutions were created in regards of big businesses. With “trust-busting” presidents like Roosevelt and Wilson, many large corporations were shut down, restoring capitalist equity within American life. Other Progressive reforms, such as conservation, were also enacted that allowed for many great American wildernesses to be preserved for future generations to enjoy. Even with many Progressive reforms such as the above, many social issues deeper within the folds of America were unaddressed, such as women and black rights. Even with these social ills, Progressivism was largely a success within the grand scheme of history. Enactments done within the Progressive era are still alive and well today, Yosemite still exists, trusts don’t dominate. Overall, Progressive like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, while nowhere near perfect, created a framework that society would continue on throughout times. A framework of enlightened thinking that would become a legacy to this