Progressive Era

Definition

The Progressive Era was a period of widespread social activism and political reform in the United States that spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was characterized by a push for greater government intervention to address societal problems and improve the welfare of citizens, particularly the working class and marginalized groups.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Progressive Era saw the rise of social welfare programs, such as workers' compensation, minimum wage laws, and child labor regulations, aimed at addressing the needs of the working class.
2. Muckraking journalists played a key role in the Progressive movement by exposing corruption and social ills, which helped galvanize public support for reform.
3. The Progressive Era witnessed significant efforts to break up large business monopolies and trusts, known as 'trust busting,' in order to promote competition and protect consumers.
4. Progressives sought to expand democracy and give more power to the people, including through the introduction of initiatives, referendums, and the direct election of senators.
5. The Progressive Era laid the groundwork for the growth of the federal government's role in regulating the economy and addressing social issues, setting the stage for the emergence of the modern administrative state.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Progressive Era influenced public policy and the public interest.
  • The Progressive Era was characterized by a push for greater government intervention to address societal problems and improve the welfare of citizens, particularly the working class and marginalized groups. This led to the introduction of a range of social welfare programs, such as workers' compensation, minimum wage laws, and child labor regulations, aimed at addressing the needs of the working class. Progressives also sought to expand democracy and give more power to the people, which influenced the development of initiatives, referendums, and the direct election of senators. These reforms were driven by a desire to address social and economic inequalities and promote the public interest.
• Discuss how the Progressive Era influenced the development of contemporary democratic liberalism.
  • The Progressive Era laid the groundwork for the growth of the federal government's role in regulating the economy and addressing social issues, setting the stage for the emergence of the modern administrative state. This expanded role of government in addressing societal problems and promoting the welfare of citizens is a key tenet of contemporary democratic liberalism. Additionally, the Progressive Era's emphasis on expanding democracy and giving more power to the people, through initiatives, referendums, and the direct election of senators, aligns with the democratic liberal emphasis on citizen participation and empowerment.
• Analyze how the Progressive Era influenced the formation of public opinion and majority-minority relations.
  • The Progressive Era witnessed the rise of muckraking journalists who exposed corruption and social ills, which helped galvanize public support for reform. This increased public awareness and engagement with social and political issues, shaping the formation of public opinion during this period. Additionally, the Progressive Era's emphasis on addressing the needs of the working class and marginalized groups, through the introduction of social welfare programs and efforts to expand democracy, had implications for majority-minority relations. These reforms aimed to give more power and representation to previously underserved or marginalized segments of the population, potentially shifting the dynamics of majority-minority relations and the political landscape.

Related terms

Muckrakers: Journalists and authors who exposed corruption, social injustices, and other societal problems during the Progressive Era to raise public awareness and spur reform.

Trust Busting: The government's efforts to break up large business monopolies and trusts in order to promote competition and protect consumers.

Populism: A political approach that appeals to the interests and concerns of ordinary people, often in opposition to a perceived elite establishment.