Progressive Era

A detailed Summary of Progressive Era

The progressive era was the response of different groups to the problems that were caused by the rapid industrialization and urbanization that came after the Civil War. Some of these problems included the spread of poverty, the exploitation of labor, the breakdown of democratic government caused by the emergence of political organizations, or machines, and a rapid movement toward financial and industrial concentration. Many Americans feared that combinations of economic and political power were destroying their historic traditions of responsible democratic government and free economic opportunity. So they began to form what we know today as the progressives.

The progressives were made up of new, middle class professionals who were looking to apply principals of professions to problems they saw in society. Muckraking journalists were also known as progressives. They attacked corruption and scandal with a sense of moral outrage. Another group were the political reformers. Then there were the socialists. This group was consisted of frustrated workers who promised to destroy capitalism. However, most other progressives rejected socialists because they were too extreme in their goals and methods.

The progressive era was the response of different groups to the problems that were caused by the rapid industrialization and urbanization that came after the Civil War. Some of these problems included the spread of poverty, the exploitation of labor, the breakdown of democratic government caused by the emergence of political organizations, or machines, and a rapid movement toward financial and industrial concentration. Many Americans feared that combinations of economic and political power were destroying their historic traditions of responsible democratic government and free economic opportunity. So they began to form what we know today as the progressives.

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state level with the blue laws and on the national level with the 18th Amendment. This prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor.

The third and final theme was the belief that citizens needed to take an active part, politically, and morally, to help improve social conditions. They pushed for the government to take a larger part in regulating the economy and solving the nation's social problems. A perfect example of citizen action was the settlement houses. Jane Adams, and others, established these group homes in city slums to help aid poor, urban residents. They also promoted public health reform in cities. They accomplished this by chlorinating water and tightening the sanitary regulations. The houses also provided education and craft programs for residents, along with neighborhood health clinics and dispensaries. Politically, progressives helped to build the Child Labor Laws. Most states passed minimum working age laws and prohibited children from working more than ten hours a day. They also formed the Anti-Saloon League and the Women's Christian Temperance Union. These groups fought alcoholism on the !

While not all progressives agreed with one another, in my opinion, they acco

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Approximate Word count = 1314
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History