The Progressive Movement | America's Third Great Awakening

Summary

The Third Great Awakening in America, emerging in the late 19th century, marked a transformative period focused on social and political reform rather than religious revival. Rooted in the progressive movement, it sought to address the inequities caused by industrialization, including child labor, unsafe working conditions, and monopolistic practices. Driven by a moralistic spirit and social science, the movement advocated for labor rights, women's suffrage, and antitrust laws. Influenced by the Social Gospel, it also led to the rise of progressive leaders, especially women, in politics. Despite its successes, the movement's darker side included support for eugenics and nativism. Ultimately, it left a lasting legacy of reform that shaped modern America.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Third Great Awakening in America, beginning at the close of the 19th century, was centered around the Progressive Movement rather than a religious revival, although religion still played a role.
• 😀 Unlike previous Great Awakenings, which focused on religious revival, the Third Great Awakening aimed to address social and moral issues through comprehensive social reforms.
• 😀 The Progressive Movement was driven by a new generation of educated, middle-class Americans who were frustrated with the corruption and stagnation of the Gilded Age.
• 😀 Key social issues that the Progressives sought to reform included child labor, sweatshops, monopolies, political corruption, and unsanitary working conditions.
• 😀 Muckraking journalists, such as Ida Tarbell, were instrumental in exposing corporate abuses, while charity workers and activists, like Jane Addams, worked to alleviate the struggles of the urban poor.
• 😀 The Progressives advocated for sweeping reforms, including child labor laws, maximum work hours, the creation of national parks, food and drug safety regulations, and the establishment of the FDA.
• 😀 The movement was fueled by a belief in social science—the idea that scientific methods could be applied to solve societal problems and create a more just and moral society.
• 😀 The Social Gospel, a religious movement that emerged alongside the Progressive Movement, encouraged Christians to reform social and economic systems in alignment with Christian values, particularly focusing on the urban poor.
• 😀 While the Progressive Movement helped marginalized groups, it often sought to moralize and ‘uplift’ them according to middle-class, Protestant values, sometimes resulting in exclusionary practices like eugenics.
• 😀 The key achievements of the Third Great Awakening included the abolition of child labor, regulation of work hours, the passage of women’s suffrage, the establishment of antitrust laws, and the creation of a national parks system.

Q & A

What was unique about the Third Great Awakening compared to the previous ones?

The Third Great Awakening was unique because it was the first to focus primarily on social and political reforms rather than religious revival. Although it did include a religious component, its main focus was on transforming America through the progressive movement and addressing societal issues caused by industrialization.

What were some of the key social and moral issues that the progressive movement aimed to address?

The progressive movement sought to address issues like child labor, unsafe working conditions, political corruption, the concentration of wealth in monopolies, unsanitary food and medicine practices, and the overall lack of moral and social justice in American society.

How did the rise of industrialization impact American society during the Gilded Age?

Industrialization brought about rapid economic growth, technological advancements, and the rise of new wealth, but it also led to severe social problems. Many workers faced exploitation in sweatshops, child labor, unsafe conditions, and the emergence of monopolies that stifled competition, which prompted the need for reforms.

What role did social science play in the progressive movement?

Social science played a crucial role in the progressive movement as it provided a new method to understand and address societal issues. The progressives believed that by studying human societies scientifically, they could create laws and institutions that would lead to a more just and moral society, focusing on institutional reform rather than individual moral improvement.

Who were some prominent figures in the progressive movement and what causes did they champion?

Prominent figures included Ida Tarbell, who exposed the abuses of Standard Oil; Jane Addams, a social reformer who worked in settlement houses; and Francis Perkins, who helped pass labor reforms after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Other important causes included women's suffrage, temperance, antitrust laws, conservation, and child labor reform.

How did the progressive movement impact women’s rights in the early 20th century?

The progressive movement significantly contributed to the advancement of women's rights, especially in two major areas: temperance and suffrage. Women played a central role in advocating for prohibition and were instrumental in securing the constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote.

What was the relationship between the progressive movement and religious revival during the Third Great Awakening?

The progressive movement worked in tandem with the social gospel, a religious revival movement that focused on social justice. The social gospel, especially through figures like Walter Rauschenbusch, encouraged the belief that it was a Christian duty to reform social and economic systems to alleviate the suffering of the poor and marginalized.

What role did women play in the progressive movement beyond suffrage and temperance?

Women played a significant role in various areas of the progressive movement, especially in charity work, social reforms, and advocating for the rights of the poor and marginalized. They also took leadership positions in organizations like the Women's Christian Temperance Union and the settlement house movement.

How did the concept of 'social engineering' manifest in the progressive movement?

The concept of social engineering in the progressive movement involved using scientific and rational methods to create better social systems. Progressives believed that by changing laws and structures, they could eliminate social problems, such as poverty and inequality, without focusing on the moral character of individuals.

What was the darker side of the progressive movement?

The darker side of the progressive movement included its embrace of eugenics, which sought to improve society by controlling the genetic makeup of the population, often through forced sterilizations. Additionally, progressives sometimes exhibited anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic sentiments, attempting to 'Americanize' immigrants and enforce Protestant values.