The Progressives | Period 7: 1890-1945 | AP US History | Khan Academy

Summary

The Progressive Era, spanning from the 1890s to the 1920s, was a period of significant reform in the United States. Driven by industrialization and urbanization, reformers addressed social issues like poverty and unsafe conditions through various means. Journalists exposed corruption, politicians regulated big businesses, and activists fought for workers' rights and women's suffrage. Despite their diverse goals, Progressives shared a belief in societal improvement and government intervention. However, their efforts were marred by contradictions, such as advocating for literacy tests and eugenics, reflecting the era's complex nature.

Takeaways

• 🏭 The Civil War led to significant societal changes with industrialization, urbanization, and immigration reshaping American life.
• 🌆 City living and factory work introduced new social issues like poverty and unsafe conditions, prompting the need for reform.
• 🔍 The Progressive Era, starting in the 1890s, was characterized by reformers addressing social problems through various means.
• 📰 Muckrakers played a crucial role by exposing corruption and unsanitary conditions, influencing legislation like the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.
• 🛠 Progressives fought for worker protections, including an eight-hour workday, safer working conditions, and collective bargaining rights.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Efforts were made to advance women's and children's rights, such as limiting child labor and securing women's suffrage through the 19th Amendment.
• 🏛️ Politicians like Teddy Roosevelt aimed to curb big business excesses by challenging trusts and monopolies.
• 🗳️ The Progressives sought to reduce political corruption, resulting in the 17th Amendment for the direct election of senators.
• 🚫 Moral reform was pursued, culminating in the 18th Amendment's prohibition of alcohol sale and consumption.
• 🔄 Despite their goals for societal improvement, Progressives were not uniform in their views, with divisions on issues like voting rights and immigration.
• 🌐 The Progressive Era's legacy is mixed, with some successes in addressing social issues but also limitations and contradictions in their approach to inclusivity and equality.

Q & A

What were the major changes in American life after the Civil War?

After the Civil War, American life underwent significant changes due to industrialization, urbanization, and immigration, which altered the demographic composition, living conditions, and occupational landscape of the United States.

What social problems emerged with city living and factory work during the Progressive Era?

The rise of city living and factory work led to social problems such as poverty, unsafe working and living conditions, and the emergence of monopolies and price-fixing practices that limited competition.

Who were the Progressives and what did they advocate for?

The Progressives were reformers who advocated for remedies to the social problems that arose during the period of rapid industrialization and urbanization. They worked on a variety of issues, including sanitation, worker protections, women's rights, and limiting the power of big businesses.

What was the role of muckrakers in the Progressive Era?

Muckrakers were journalists, writers, and photographers who exposed corruption and unsanitary factory practices, contributing to public awareness and driving legislative changes like the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.

What were some of the key reforms pursued by Progressives to protect workers?

Progressives fought for an eight-hour workday, safer working conditions, and the right for workers to bargain collectively through unions, aiming to improve the lives of laborers in the face of industrialization.

How did Progressives work to advance the rights of women and children?

Progressives aimed to advance the rights of women and children by limiting child labor, promoting access to birth control, and securing women's suffrage through the 19th Amendment.

What actions did Progressives take to curb the power of big businesses?

Progressives, including politicians like President Teddy Roosevelt, targeted trusts and monopolies to reduce their stifling effect on competition and to prevent price-fixing.

How did the Progressives address political corruption?

To combat political corruption, Progressives focused on reforms such as the passage of the 17th Amendment, which allowed for the direct election of senators, reducing the influence of party bosses.

What were the moral reforms advocated by some Progressives?

Some Progressives pushed for moral reforms to create a more orderly and humane society, with a significant achievement being the passage of the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol.

What were the common beliefs among Progressives regarding the role of government?

Progressives shared a belief in the potential for societal improvement and the necessity of government intervention to address social problems, marking a departure from the laissez-faire approach of the Gilded Age.

What were some of the internal contradictions within the Progressive Movement?

Despite their efforts to improve society, Progressives were divided on issues like voting rights, with some advocating for restrictions on who could vote and supporting policies that favored white, educated, native-born citizens over others.

How did the Progressives' views on immigration and race shape their reforms?

Many Progressives supported the complete assimilation of immigrants into American culture and advocated for restrictions on 'undesirable' immigrants, reflecting the racial attitudes and eugenics beliefs of the time.