Progressive Era

Definition

The Progressive Era was a period of social activism and political reform in the United States from the 1890s to the 1920s, aimed at addressing the economic, social, and political issues arising from industrialization and urbanization. This era focused on improving society through various reforms, including labor rights, women's suffrage, and government accountability, leading to significant changes in social welfare policies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Progressive Era was characterized by a surge of reform movements aimed at improving working conditions, regulating monopolies, and expanding democratic participation.
2. Key figures during this period included presidents like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, who promoted progressive policies at the national level.
3. Women's suffrage was a major achievement of the Progressive Era, culminating in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote.
4. Child labor laws were also a significant focus during this time, leading to reforms that improved working conditions and limited the hours children could work.
5. The establishment of regulatory agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was influenced by Progressive Era ideals to ensure consumer safety and prevent corporate abuses.

Review Questions

• How did the Progressive Era influence social welfare policies in the United States?
  • The Progressive Era significantly influenced social welfare policies by highlighting the need for reforms to address issues like poverty, labor rights, and public health. Reformers pushed for legislation that improved living conditions, established labor protections, and addressed societal inequalities. This era laid the groundwork for future government involvement in social welfare, emphasizing that it was essential for the state to take action to protect vulnerable populations.
• Discuss the role of muckrakers during the Progressive Era and their impact on public perception and policy.
  • Muckrakers played a crucial role during the Progressive Era by exposing corruption, social injustices, and unethical practices in both politics and business. Their investigative journalism brought issues such as child labor, unsafe working conditions, and political corruption to light, influencing public opinion and igniting demands for reform. The widespread readership of their work helped mobilize citizens around progressive causes, ultimately leading to significant changes in laws and regulations.
• Evaluate how the ideals of the Progressive Era set the stage for later reforms during the New Deal era.
  • The ideals of the Progressive Era laid important groundwork for later reforms during the New Deal by establishing a framework for government intervention in economic and social issues. Many concepts championed by Progressives—such as workers' rights, consumer protection, and social justice—were further developed under Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration in response to the Great Depression. The shared belief that government should play an active role in addressing societal problems allowed New Deal policies to build upon earlier progressive reforms.

Related terms

Muckrakers: Journalists and writers during the Progressive Era who exposed corruption, social injustices, and abuses in politics and business, prompting public demand for reforms.

Social Gospel Movement: A religious movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, advocating for social justice and the application of Christian ethics to address societal issues such as poverty and inequality.

New Deal:

A series of programs and reforms implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression, which built on some ideas from the Progressive Era to provide relief and recovery for the American economy.