Progressives In The Late 1800's

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Unfortunately, most of the reforms sought out by reformers during the late 1800’s were mostly ignored. For example, Farmers during this time came together to create the National Farmers Alliance, which aided in the creation of the Populist Party and worked to lower tariffs and eliminate the trust in order to help American Farmers. However, despite their hard efforts, the “millionaires club” Senate did not sway away from their cozy relationship with big business, and instead of aiding their efforts, imposed weak legislation like the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. Reforms such as the Interstate Commerce Act failed to quench the demands of movements throughout the United States during this time. Early progressives during this time were met …show more content…

The government would impose legislation lenient and friendly towards big business, and in return, big business would allow for certain economic success. This demonstrates why when certain progressive groups wanted reforms limiting big business, the government would not indulge the progressives. In 1901, however, the tables turned for the suppressed progressives when Theodore Roosevelt became the President after McKinley was assassinated. Roosevelt knew the different angles of America’s socio-economic statuses, “In the three of which I have been a member, I have sat with bankers and bricklayers, with merchants and mechanics, with lawyers and saloonkeepers” (Doc 1). Roosevelt knew the hard comings that had fallen on the hard working Americans that pushed through the intense industrialization that occurred in America. Looking back at his predecessor and the work done by government before him, Roosevelt realized the necessity for reforms that would greatly strengthen America. Towards the end of McKinley’s presidency, the cozy relationship between government and big business began to fall apart. Citizens began to recognize more and more the destruction being done by the cozy relationship; as stated by Samuel Jones, the Mayor of Toledo, Ohio, “Political parties are a curse to every department of our municipal government; the prime purpose of their …show more content…

Roosevelt’s clear message allowed for the reforms, oppressed by McKinley, would finally be accepted. As shown in the Preamble and Declaration of Principles of the Great and Growing order of Workingmen, ideas such as increasing Health and Safety, eliminating child labor, and equality in the workplace were strived for in the late nineteenth century but were not accepted. Examples of the advancement of reforms during this time include the Niagara Movement of 1905 which focused on, “...protest against the curtailment of our civil and political rights. All American citizens have the right ti equal treatment in places of public entertainment...” (Doc 7). Another movement that advanced in the resurgence of ‘Freedom of Speech’ between reformers and the government was in regard to Women and their rights. Women from across the country ‘Picketed’ against their unequal and unfair pay in the conditions that many Americans had to work in. This demand for equal payment and better working conditions can be seen in the Knights of Labor’s Declaration of Principles, “To secure for both sexes equal pay for equal work” and “The adoption of measures providing for the health and safety of those engaged in... manufacturing...” (Doc

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