The Progressive Era Essay

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The Spirit of the Progressives

During the 19th and 20th centuries, following the civil war and reconstruction, America became a country of tremendous Industrial growth. With this growth sprang opened a vast amount of new jobs, new jobs that caused large amounts of immigrants to migrate into our borders. But with this overwhelming increase of immigrants, came the growth and deterioration of cities and overcrowded slums, deplorable working conditions, and an even larger division among the classes. However, with all this industrial growth and immigrant migration, came the need for change; and era of change that brought about the movement of "progressivism", otherwise known as the "progressive era." This movement was not just a movement of …show more content…

We can only imagine what it would have been like, going to a new country and not speaking their language, having little or no money and little food, and banking on or hoping that life might be a little brighter and your future a little securer for yourself and your family. That had to have been a traumatic time in the lives of all those immigrants, but thankfully, with the help of the progressive reformers, some comfort and stability was provided to them. Their living conditions, and their work conditions, along with the many organizations established by the reformers, helped with many of the needs of the immigrants. Did the reformers solve all of the problems? No, the problems were too vast in number and sometimes too political, but what they did do was help others to understand that there was a need for change and with their spirits, they did try to make a difference in the quality of life of the poor and inprovished immigrants. Overall, the progressive era not only proved to be a time for helping the immigrants, but it was also a time for the progressives and their spirit’s to open the eyes of the people, therefore, bringing much needed change and making a difference in

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