¶ … Era: Aspirations and Accomplishments
Progressives and their accomplishments
The reform movement of Progressivism ran from the late 19th century all through to the first decades of the 20th century. During this period, leading intellectuals and the social reformists sought to address cultural, economic and political questions arising from the rapid Industrial Revolution and modern capitalism growth in America. The progressives shared common views that the at every government level, they need to be involved actively in societal reforms. Historians concur that Progressivism methods and spirit came from the urban middle, upper-middle classes, and native-born who are engineers, doctors, journalists, social workers, lawyers, college professors, ministers, and college professors. Despite the support of progressivism movement by immigrant working class, rural Americans and the top leaders in finance and business, the ethos of the movement are rooted in Protestantism.
At the time, the constitutional system that was in place was outdated and needed to be replaced by an instrument of social change that is more dynamic and evolving. The movement hoped to achieve significant political changes at the national, local and state levels, which would increase popularity concerning control of the government. Therefore, the old system needed to be opened up and made more democratic. The accomplishments of the movement included the elimination of the boss rule, adoption...
... They were accustomed to living in the open, to enduring great fatigue and hardship, and to encountering all kinds of danger." The war against Spain and for the liberation of Cuba was one that would prove the superiority of America and its ideals. The United States, too, could join the nations of Europe as a major world power, with interests in every corner of the globe. Roosevelt became a hero
Roosevelt believed in an independent presidency and thought this was best for the American people. Milkis notes that Roosevelt was strongly influenced by Wilson and his procedures. Roosevelt shard his vision but he was also more concerned with "practical rather than theoretical considerations" (482). Roosevelt had a vision to establish a "personal party" (484) and Milkis claims that this was an attempt to alter the character of constitutional government
During the turn of the century, maverick muckraking journalists dug up dirt on unfair labor practices including the use of child labor. Muckrakers also drew attention to unsanitary working conditions and the lack of systematic health regulations in meat and food production. President Roosevelt responded by initiating a series of labor-related legislation including the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. However, Roosevelt at the same time publicly denounced muckrakers
Presidents The United States of America is a strong proponent of democracy and a renowned democracy. Democracy in this sense implies periodic free and fair elections as well as participation. Since the attainment of independence in 1776, the country has conducted numerous successful elections for a president. The 1912 presidential elections appear in the history books as the most progressive as the two front-runners Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt espoused
Gilded Age A Brief Look at the Progressive Movement and the Gilded Age The Gilded Age was a period of seemingly unbounded economic expansion in the United States that lasted roughly from the election of Ulysses S. Grant to the elevation of reformer Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency at the turn of the twentieth century. This period coincided with the expansion and emergence of the nation as the conquest of the west
" (National Women's History Museum, 2007) Included in these reforms was the expansion of the federal government in the areas of education, health, wages, working conditions, sanitation, and social welfare. Some of the key individuals involved in the reform movement included Eleanor Roosevelt, an avid supporter of civil rights for African-Americans; Rose Schneiderman, of the WTUL; Frances Perkins, head of the New York Consumer's League; Mary McLeod Bethune, a civil
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