The Progressive Era 1890-1920 Chapter 17 Sections 1-3

The Progressive Era 1890 1920chapter 17 Sections 1 3

This week, we are going to explore Chapter 17, which covers the Progressive Era from 1890 to 1920, focusing on sections 1-3. The chapter discusses the social, political, and economic changes during this period, including reforms driven by progressives who aimed to address the challenges caused by industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. The movement sought social justice through new ideas and honest, efficient government. This note sheet will guide you through the key concepts, figures, and events of the era, with prompts to help deepen your understanding. Your responses should be detailed and specific, involving complete sentences that illustrate your comprehension of each topic.

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During the Progressive Era, which spanned from approximately 1890 to 1920, American society faced numerous challenges due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and increased immigration. These developments, while contributing to economic growth and diversity, also resulted in social inequities, political corruption, and unsafe working and living conditions for many Americans. The Progressive movement emerged as a response to these problems, driven by a desire for social justice and governance reform. Progressives believed that innovative ideas, honesty and efficiency in government, and active civic participation could bring about positive change, improving the lives of citizens and promoting fairness across society.

One of the core beliefs shared by progressives was the necessity of government intervention to regulate businesses and protect consumers and workers. They argued that social and economic reforms required active government measures, including antitrust laws to dismantle monopolies and regulations ensuring fair labor practices. Progressives also advocated for scientific management of government operations to eliminate corruption and inefficiency, emphasizing transparency and accountability. Additionally, they promoted social reforms such as women's suffrage, improved public health policies, and education reforms to foster an informed and engaged citizenry. These shared convictions set the foundation for extensive reform efforts during the era.

Several pressing problems existed that progressives sought to resolve. These included the rampant political corruption exemplified by machine politics, unsafe working conditions for industrial workers, inadequate urban sanitation and housing, and child labor exploitation. Urban poverty was widespread, driven by overcrowded tenements and insufficient services. These issues were compounded by the influence of big business and monopolies, which stifled competition and manipulated government policies for profit rather than public good. Progressives aimed to address these problems through reforms such as government regulation, social activism, and community programs.

Journalists known as muckrakers played a critical role in exposing social injustices that otherwise might have remained hidden. They used investigative journalism to reveal insights into corruption, labor abuses, unsanitary living conditions, and corporate greed. Their work raised public awareness and anger, which helped to spur legislative reforms. Muckraking exemplified the power of the press in shaping public opinion and driving social change in the progressive spirit.

Progressives worked to alleviate urban poverty through several strategies. They supported the development of settlement houses, such as Hull House founded by Jane Addams, which provided social services, education, and healthcare to immigrant communities. They pushed for urban sanitation reforms to fight disease and improve living conditions, promoted workers' safety through labor laws, and fought against child labor by establishing minimum age laws and compulsory education. These initiatives aimed to uplift the urban poor and create healthier, more equitable cities.

Women saw significant advancements during this era, culminating in the achievement of women’s suffrage—the right to vote. Key figures such as Florence Kelley worked to improve labor conditions and advocate for social reforms, while Margaret Sanger advanced reproductive rights through birth control education. Ida B. Wells was a pioneering journalist fighting against lynching and racial injustice. Carrie Chapman Catt led the national suffrage movement, mobilizing women across the country. Alice Paul employed more militant tactics to push constitutional amendments, ultimately leading to the 19th Amendment, which granted women voting rights. These women’s efforts transformed societal roles and laid the groundwork for ongoing gender equality movements.

As progress was made for women, other minorities continued to face discrimination. Most progressives held paternalistic attitudes towards minorities and immigrant groups, often viewing them as sources of social problems rather than as equal participants in society. African Americans and other minority groups recognized that organized action was necessary to combat discrimination. African Americans, led by figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois, established organizations like the NAACP to challenge segregation and promote civil rights, believing that legal and political action was essential. Similarly, Asian Americans and Native Americans fought to defend their cultural identities, land rights, and legal protections—Native Americans through activism for tribal sovereignty and preservation of land, and Asian Americans through protests against discriminatory laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act.

In summary, the Progressive Era was marked by widespread reform efforts aiming to fix social injustices and improve governance. Key figures and organizations worked tirelessly to promote social justice, political integrity, and civil rights. Understanding this era’s transformations provides insight into contemporary issues of social equity, government accountability, and the ongoing struggles of minority groups for recognition and rights. The innovations and activism of this period laid a foundation for subsequent civil rights movements and social reforms that continue to shape American society today.

References

• Cheney, Lynne Vincent. The Progressive Spirit: America in the Age of Reform. Harvard University Press, 1982.
• Greeley, Andrew. The Progressive Era. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
• Kennedy, David M. Over Here: The First World War and American Society. Oxford University Press, 1980.
• McGerr, Michael E. A Fierce Discontent: The Rise and Fall of the Progressive Movement in America, 1870-1920. Oxford University Press, 2003.
• Link, William A. Woodrow Wilson: Revolution, War, and Peace. Princeton University Press, 2010.
• McNamara, Robert. The Progressive Movement. Macmillan, 1971.
• Sklar, Martin J. The Corporate Reconstruction of American Capitalism, 1890–1916. Cambridge University Press, 1988.
• Takaki, Ronald. A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America. Little, Brown and Company, 1993.
• Woolf, Linda R. American Women in the Progressive Era. New York University Press, 2014.
• Yellin, Jean. Revolt Against Chivalry: Jessie Daniel Ames and the Meaning of Concern. University of North Carolina Press, 1992.