jan 1, 1903 - (Topic 7.4) Unit 2: The Progressive Era

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The Progressives were mostly urban, middle-class, and educated people who wanted to fix problems caused by industrialization, corruption, and social injustices. They believed that the government should take an active role in solving these issues. Many journalists, known as muckrakers, exposed corruption and social problems. Ida Tarbell wrote about the unfair practices of Standard Oil and John D. Rockefeller, while Lincoln Steffens exposed political corruption in city governments. Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle revealed the terrible conditions in the meatpacking industry, and Jacob Riis used photographs in How the Other Half Lives to show the struggles of the poor. The settlement house movement, led by Jane Addams with Hull House, helped immigrants by offering social services like education, childcare, and job training. Other reformers, like Margaret Sanger, worked to spread knowledge of birth control to help poor women. Florence Kelley and the National Consumers’ League pushed for worker safety, while Rose Schneiderman and the Women’s Trade Union League fought for women’s labor rights. However, Progressives did not always agree on every issue. Some ignored segregation, while others supported more government efficiency through experts rather than popular participation.
Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal focused on fairness for workers, business regulation, consumer protection, and conservation. During the Coal Strike of 1902, Roosevelt intervened to help workers get better wages and shorter hours, marking the first time the government did not side completely with businesses. He used the Sherman Antitrust Act to break up monopolies and regulate railroads to prevent unfair pricing. Roosevelt also worked on consumer protection after The Jungle exposed the meat industry, leading to the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act. Conservation was another key part of Roosevelt’s policies, as he worked to protect forests, create national parks, and regulate the use of natural resources.
African Americans in the Progressive Era faced many challenges, and leaders like Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois had different ideas on how to achieve progress. Washington believed African Americans should focus on education and economic success before demanding political rights, while Du Bois argued for immediate civil rights and political activism. The Great Migration saw many African Americans move from the South to Northern cities for better jobs and to escape racism, though they still faced discrimination in the North. While the Progressive Era brought reforms, it often ignored the struggles of Black Americans.

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