The Origins of the Progressive Spirit in America

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) The Progressive Movement 1890-1920 The Origins of the Progressive Spirit in America A better America was the aim of activists and reformers from a wide range of backgrounds and agendas throughout the Progressive Era, which was marked by a variety of movements and wide-ranging causes. The nation was confronted with a number of issues toward the close of the 1800s, including huge businesses' expansion, women's rights, immigration, corruption, industrial working conditions, anti-Black violence on the rise, and White supremacist sentiment in the South. These reformers were responding to these issues. The era's investigative journalists exposed societal injustice and inspired citizens to take action. The Progressives' campaigns frequently started at the local level. Even if several causes had certain commonalities, each movement was primarily focused on achieving its own objectives, whether it was the desire for a more democratic voting process, the prohibition of alcohol from communities, or the right of women to vote. At the start of the 20th century, the United States faced several social, economic, and political issues, which led to the emergence of the Progressive Movement, which lasted from 1890 to 1920. It was a time when reformers and activists yearned to improve America by tackling a number of problems that beset the country. The Progressive Movement was propelled in part by the increasing sway and strength of monopolies and big businesses. Concerns over labor exploitation, economic inequality, and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a select few surfaced as a result of the large corporations' explosive growth. In an effort to protect consumers from exploitation and advance fair competition, progressives used anti-trust legislation and regulatory measures to limit the influence of these corporate titans. The Progressive Era saw a rise in support for women's rights at the same time. Voting rights and social and political equality were among the many demands made by women. Leading the suffrage movement were activists like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who contended that women ought to have a say in the laws and regulations that shaped their daily lives. During this time, immigration also became a major concern. Native-born Americans began to worry cultural dilution and economic competitiveness as a result of the flood of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe. Progressives struggled to preserve the country's values of variety and inclusiveness while addressing the difficulties posed by immigration. For several Progressives, the two main issues were political change and corruption. Public confidence in democracy was weakened by the pervasive cronyism and graft in government institutions, especially at the municipal and state levels. Progressive reformers advocated for policies like direct primary elections and civil service reform as a way to fight corruption and improve government openness. In addition, the terrible working conditions in mines and industrial industries brought attention to the predicament of laborers. Progressive activists fought for workplace safety rules, labor rights, and minimum wage legislation to shield workers from mistreatment and exploitation. These activists included reform-minded politicians as well as members of the labor movement. The Progressive Movement was further sparked by the surge in anti-Black violence and White supremacist ideology, especially in the South. Activists such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Ida B. Wells-Barnett called for an end to racial violence and the enforcement of civil rights for African Americans after exposing the horrors of lynching and racial discrimination. Progressives used a variety of strategies, from legislative lobbying to grassroots mobilization, in order to solve these diverse concerns. Muckrakers, or progressive journalists, were instrumental in drawing attention to social injustices and influencing public opinion in favor of change. Their in-depth reporting exposed corporate wrongdoing, social injustice, and corruption, motivating people to demand change. The Progressive Movement was unified by a common vision of a society that was more just, egalitarian, and democratic, notwithstanding the variety of its means and aims. Progressive reformers overcame obstacles and resistance to provide the foundation for numerous social and political changes that would reshape American history in the years that followed.