Progressive Era Dbq

During the Progressive Era it was a great time for social change, and economic growth in the United States. The movement involved promoters from both the Democratic and Republican parties, as well as members from third parties who concentrated on specific issues. The Progressives were middle-class citizens who’s intent on improving society and saving capitalism in the United States by cutting the worst abuses of the capital system. Several concerns targeted for reform by the Progressives were direct outcomes of the large amount of immigration, and industrialization that was occurring during this time period. Political parties were using the voting base offered by these immigrants to pursue their own goals, often helping the immigrant families

with everyday assistance in jobs, housing, and other benefits. Another focus for reformers was the poor housing, sanitations, and the exploitation of child labor.
Progressive leaders attacked the political and economic systems for allowing these horrific conditions to continue.

These leaders would sometimes organize their own private relief programs to provide assistance to these people. Many of the Progressives came from the traditional upper and middle-class establishments, they were mostly college educated, and they thought that the government could be an instrument for change. They were offended by the rise of a class of government and also political professionals who threatened their own views. To some of the Progressives their religious beliefs along with their social responsibilities as members of society required that they act to improve working and living conditions for the poor. One of the success of progressivism owed much to the publicity that was generated by the muckrakers. Muckrakers wrote about the horrors of poverty, the horrific working conditions, and child labor. Women also played a noticeable role in reform, they began justifying their work through motherly instincts testifying they should be able to expand their motherly roles in the public sphere. Women were at the forefront of efforts to help establish public schools, eradicate slavery, and limit

drinking.
In the United States cities were relying largely on private developers to build streetcar lines and provide urgently needed water, gas, and electricity. The Americans believed the lure of profit stimulated great expansions such as trolley cars, and electric lighting skyscrapers. Political machines were party organizations, and middle class reformers condemned immigrants for supporting machines. Although, urban voters assumed that few middle class Americans were concerned about the dilemma of poor city folk like themselves. Machines were definitely not impeccable, but immigrants could rely on them. Machine style governments were achieving notable success despite widespread corruption.
While Federalism gave some states considerable freedom to innovate, it also hampered national reforms. People who were against child labor won laws that banded young children from working in the factories, and strictly regulated the amount of hours and conditions of older children’s labor. Some industrial states resisted these laws because they relied on their children’s income to feed their family.
Americans were soon realizing they were not longer free, individuals could no longer freely contract with big business.

Even the hardest working ward boss could only help individuals on a local level in very limited ways. Workers began rising up to strike against the overshadowing power of their employers demanding better wages and working conditions. The issue of fair living wage came to dominate the Progressives thinking. Making them wondered if they could really afford the products they are making at work. The depression transformed American politics, the farm foreclosures, and rail road bankruptcies were indicating economic distress. The public began blaming hard times on political

turmoil.

Two important objectives of Progressivism were to give the public the opportunity to participate more in the political process. The Progressives hoped to achieve these goals through an assortment of political reforms. Both major parties were turning to direct primary which asked voters to choose their nominees rather than the party leaders. While the two major political parties were limiting suffrage, the federal courts invalidated many of the regulatory laws that they were passing to protect workers and promote public welfare. Courts were treating employers and employees as equal parties.
After the Industrial Revolution it transformed urban life and gave people greater opportunities for improving their standard of living. America’s urban population exploded with the millions of immigrants coming from overseas. Like the immigrants, African Americans also sought out urban opportunities. But Blacks faced urban dangers like the race riot which was an attack by white mobs. The Progressives believed industrialization and urbanization were producing an abundance of problems such as city slums, and worker mistreatment. So as the middle classes left the cities, the poor starting moving to these cities with the promise of prosperity. Landlords were taking full advantage of the high demand for housing and subdividing houses into apartments. These apartments where poorly maintained and quite unsanitary. The rich were now living in the suburbs and the poor were living in the center of cities. For many of the urban poor, living in the city actually resulted in a decreased quality of life. But despite the dangers of living in the industrial cities, they were also becoming exciting places to live with the amusement parts, the music, and the museums. American cities began finding it challenging to manage with the rapid growth. Homelessness and hunger began running rampant. Also a huge problem in the big city was disease.
The American people understood that their political system needed to adjust to the new industrial conditions. Whenever the reformers managed to win a key regulatory law, they frequently found it struck down by hostile courts. Also during this time Blacks, immigrants, and native born white laborers frequently viewed one another as rivals or foreigners rather than members of a unified class. The Progressive Era persuaded Americans that the industrial economy required stronger government regulation. The Progressives created new wisdom, and they drew the blueprints for a modern American state.