What was the Progressive movement?
By the late 1800's, reform groups in the US had coalesced into the Populist movement of which the Progressive movement was an outgrowth. These movements were a response to the increasing industrialization of the country and the growth of urban areas, as well as a reaction to governmental corruption and coercive business practices. The movement cut across Republican and Democrat lines, and their specific aims included restoring political power to the laboring class, establishing private social services for immigrants and poor, establishing new rules of business conduct to allow more to share in economic opportunities, and containing and eliminating corruption in business and government. The movement included not just politicians, but scholars, journalists, preachers, novelists and businessmen, all of whom exposed evils and corruptions they found in business and politics. Their detractors referred to them as "Muckrakers" for these activities. Politically, Progressives instituted a number of changes, including the Secret...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
or Australian Ballot, the initiative, referendum, and recall so the populace had a direct say in establishing laws and ejecting politicians from office, the direct primary, direct election of Senators, women's suffrage, and city government reform. The movement successfully expanded democracy on federal and state levels and reached a dramatic peak in 1904 with Theodore Roosevelt's election and his "Square Deal" philosophy.
What was progressivism?
Progressivism was a reform movement in the United States that targeted many of the social problems related to industrialization and urbanization in the United States. The movement is usually thought to have begun in the late nineteenth century and to have ended with World War I. Progressives advocated a gamut of reforms including better working conditions, cleaning up political corruption, safer food and drugs, temperance, and the regulation of big business. Generally speaking, they argued to the role of both experts and the government in formulating responses to these problems. The Progressive movement is usually associated with the upper middle class in the United States. Politically, the movement included Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson as well as other politicians including Robert LaFollette of Wisconsin. Other Progressives included Jane Addams, Ida Tarbell, Jacob Riis, and Walter Lippmann.
What is meant by the term "Progressivism?"
The term “progressivism” can be used in many different ways, depending on the context and on who is speaking. Since you have put this question in the history group, I will assume that you are asking about progressivism in the context of American history. In that case, “progressivism” refers to a set of middle-class, reformist ideas that were espoused by the Progressives, most notably in the first two decades of the 20th century.
The Progressives were mainly dedicated to the idea that the government should enact various reforms. Progressivism was a set of ideas that wanted the government to enact laws that would reduce the powers of the rich elites while also improving the morals of society as a whole. It also envisioned private individuals and groups taking actions to improve social values.
Progressivism, then, wanted laws like antitrust laws and workplace safety laws to prevent rich elites from abusing those with less money. They wanted direct election of senators to prevent the rich from using their money to corrupt the political system. They wanted Prohibition to improve social morals. At the same time, they wanted private initiatives such as the settlement house movement to help improve social values and conditions as well.
Thus, “progressivism” was a philosophy that wanted the government (and individuals) to work to reduce the power of the rich and to improve social values and morals.
How does Progressivism involve progress?
The Progressive Movement was a movement that involved progress by trying to make things better in society for most Americans. There were many issues in American society that needed to be improved.
One area that needed improvement was working conditions. There were few laws that protected workers prior to the Progressive Movement. Workers who got hurt on the job were out of a job. There was no payment for workers injured on the job. Children worked long hours in factories since there were no child labor laws or compulsory education requirements. There were few regulations regarding safety in factories. All of this changed with the Progressive Movement as laws were passed dealing with these issues.
Another area that needed improvement was consumer protection law. Businesses falsely labeled food and medicine so they could sell it at a higher price. Conditions in meat factories were horrible. As a result of the Progressive Movement, laws that protected consumers from these abuses were passed. These laws included the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.
Politics needed reforming also. Citizens didn’t have the ability to get legislation introduced into the legislature if their representatives refused to introduce it. Citizens couldn’t remove an elected official from office if that official acted inappropriately or abused power. Citizens weren’t able to vote on ideas before they could become law. The Progressive Movement changed this with the development of the initiative, recall, and referendum.
Big businesses had a lot of power prior to the Progressive Movement. At times, businesses abused these powers. As a result of the Clayton Antitrust Act and the creation of government agencies, these powers were controlled.
The Progressive Era cleared involved progress by making conditions better for many Americans.