Progressive Movement Research Paper

The Progressive Movement brought about many changes to improve the lives of American people in many ways especially during the years between 1900 and 1920. There were reforms and changes to housing and sanitation. Garbage pick-up and improvements to the sewer systems were made and then inspectors were hired to make sure the new reforms were kept. Many of the inspectors who were hired were women. Women began to make more of an impact in the workforce. Women were also allowed to start voting.

There were reforms made to beautify the environment and make it look more beautiful. Places like parks, civic centers, and better transportation systems were made to improve communities. One thing this reform didn’t really focus on were those living in poverty.

One of the biggest reforms brought about by the Progressive Movement was the invention of a reliable automobile by Henry Ford.

It was an automobile that was affordable that most people could afford to purchase. Henry Ford created assembly lines that increased the speed and efficiency these cars could be manufactured. This began a ripple effect because with the invention of the Ford automobile and it being manufactured on an assembly line, the need for assembly line workers increased. Henry paid workers $5 a day which was more than other jobs. Other automobile companies were created which created more of a demand for vulcanized rubber to use in the manufacturing of these vehicles. With more cars on the road it became necessary for road construction workers to build and maintain the roads. This brought about many new jobs to the job market. The State and Federal governments began to pay for highway design so that people could travel further and faster in their vehicles. The Federal Highway Act of 1921 was put into place “to authorize appropriations for continuing the construction of highways; to provide additional revenue from taxes on motor fuel, tires, and trucks and

buses.”

With more and more families being able to afford and purchase vehicles, the need for gas stations grew. Gas stations started popping up everywhere. When the vehicles broke down and needed to be fixed, the need for mechanics grew. Mechanics were able to make a decent living fixing cars.

The need for more oil and steel also increased to use in making the vehicles and keeping them running. As people began to travel in their vehicles more they needed a place to stay so the demand for motels went up. The same thing happened with restaurants. People traveling needed to eat to faster food type restaurants (or diners) began to grow. They typically served hamburgers, fries, and shakes. The food was served pretty fast so travelers could be on their way and it wasn’t too expensive. The Progressive Movement gave individuals and families freedom of choice and change. It opened the door of opportunity for the to improve the economy, environment, and job-market. It was an important turning point in history and improvements continue to be made. It is pretty neat to learn how such great change took place with the ideas of a few.
Sources: Federal Highway Act of 1921 - Wikipedia; https://en.m.wikipedia.org Progressive Movement; https://m.american-historama.org Information form History class at Bonneville high school