thesis of the progressive era

Essay: The Progressive Era

The Civil War increased the power of the federal government by forcing the Southern states to abolish slavery and paved the way for still greater increase in other matters after the war. People expected it to do more, and gave it more power so it could try. The defeat of the South, Reconstruction, and the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment gave the national government growing power over the states and the people. The great and long-overdue liberating qualities of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments came, ironically, at a price to liberty: the government would need much greater power it if was going to attempt to enforce equality.

Also important to the constitutional history of the United States during this time were developments on the world stage. The ideas of German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels captured the attention of intellectuals and many others concerned with the conditions of the poor in industrialized nations.

Marx and Engels wrote “the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles” (Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Communist Manifesto , 1848).

They argued that capitalism should be replaced by socialism—a term that broadly refers to government ownership of industries and collective, rather than private, ownership of property. Eventually, Marx and Engels envisioned a classless society giving “to each according to his need,” and taking “from each according to his ability.” There would no longer be any unfulfilled need, or even a need for government itself in a future communist society. The individual person, with rights at the center of the American tradition, would be replaced by socialized persons called “species beings.” Until that time the Communist party would rule a “dictatorship of the proletariat,” the working class that the party claimed to represent.

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, authors of “The Communist Manifesto” (1848)

Socialism appealed to some but not many in the U.S. The Socialist Labor Party was founded in 1877, with goals of a classless society and collective ownership of industry and social services. Woodrow Wilson, while not claiming the label “Socialist,” determined that democracy and socialism were not all that different.

Writing as a leading professor in 1887, he wrote: “In a fundamental theory socialism and democracy are almost if not quite one and the same. They both rest at bottom upon the absolute right of the community to determine its own destiny and that of its members. Men as communities are supreme over men as individuals” (Woodrow Wilson, Socialism and Democracy , 1887).

The idea that government or “the community,” has “an absolute right to determine its own destiny and that of its members” is a progressive one. The difference between the Founders’ and progressive’s visions can be summarized this way: The Founders believed citizens could best pursue happiness if government was limited to protecting the life, liberty, and property of individuals. They believed people were naturally inclined to favor themselves, and they structured government so that people’s self-interest and individual ambition would lead outstanding officials to check one another’s attempts to exercise more power than the Constitution allows. Unlike the framers of the Constitution, progressives believed that the ultimate aim of government should be promoting the development of all human faculties. Because “communities” have rights, those rights are more important than the personal liberty of any one individual in that community. Therefore, they believed, government should provide citizens with the environment and the means to improve themselves through government-sponsored programs and policies as well as economic redistribution of goods from the rich to the poor.

The twentieth century saw continued unrest over the conditions of workers in all industrial countries.

In the U.S., some organized labor demonstrations became violent. When more than 100,000 workers protested pay cuts in the 1894 Pullman strike, disrupting all rail service west of Detroit, President Cleveland eventually used the U.S. Army to break the protests. Many believed socialism promised the relief they sought. The Socialist Party of America was formed in 1901. International Workers of the World, a union that called for the end of capitalism and wage labor, formed in 1905. Industrial tragedies like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, in which more than one hundred workers died, further incited those demanding reforms. In 1917, the drama erupted in Europe as well, when the Bolshevik Revolution established Soviet Russia.

Strikers confront the Illinois National Guard during the 1894 Pullman Strike.

Some saw the integration of some socialist party goals into the Democratic Party platform as a compromise. While the Socialist Party never captured the presidency in the U.S., Socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs received almost six percent of the popular vote in 1912. Socialist ideas were clearly part of the national conversation, and found their way into Progressive reforms of the period. Progressivism was not Marxism, but the two schools did agree that the community and its purposes should come before the individual and his preferences. These progressive reforms included the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Amendments.

Wilson, who served as president from 1913-1919, advocated what we today call the living Constitution, or the idea that its interpretation should adapt to the times. The Founders’ Constitution, in which ambition is set to “counteract” ambition, owes more to Newtonian mechanics than to Darwinian evolution, Wilson argued. As such, the Founders’ Constitution is outdated and needs improvement. The evolutionary adaptability of species identified by Darwin suggests a constitutional model. He wrote:

“Living political constitutions must be Darwinian in structure and in practice” (Woodrow Wilson, “What is Progress?” 1912).

Wilson oversaw the implementation of progressive policies such as the introduction of the income tax and the creation of the Federal Reserve System to attempt to manage the economy.

The Sixteenth Amendment authorized the national government to tax incomes. It was ratified in 1913, and Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1913 that same year. With a progressive income tax (where those who produce more pay more), the national government could now take wealth from some who had more and redistribute it to others who had less.

President Woodrow Wilson, a leading Progressive in the early twentieth century.

The Seventeenth Amendment, providing for the election of senators by the people of each state, was approved that same year. This amendment provided for the direct election of U.S. Senators. This change to the Constitution was a challenge to the principle of federalism. The Founders had carefully structured the two houses of Congress and given them different powers based on those differences. For example, representatives were elected by the people of each state for two year terms, and had the “power of the purse.” Senators were selected by their state legislatures, had six year terms, and had the duties of ratifying treaties, trying impeachments, and approving executive appointments. As Madison had written in  Federalist No. 10,  the design of Congress was meant to strike a balance, allowing the people to govern themselves while still protecting individual rights and the powers of states (James Madison,  Federalist No. 10 , 1788). The Senate was, to put it another way, a “check” against democracy and the tyranny of the majority. The Seventeenth Amendment loosened this “check and balance.”

Prohibition of the sale of liquor was a drastic progressive reform for the improvement of popular morality.

While the Temperance movement began as a female-dominated attempt to persuade individuals to abstain from drinking, it later shifted to a campaign to use the force of law to ban the manufacture and sale of alcohol. The Eighteenth Amendment (1920) banned the manufacture, sale, or transport of intoxicating beverages and the Volstead Act codified it in U.S. law. A massive failure in every way, Prohibition was repealed with the Twenty-First Amendment in 1933.

The last of the progressive amendments to the Constitution, the Nineteenth Amendment barred states from denying female citizens the right to vote in federal elections. This amendment extended the right to vote to half the population which had, in most states, been denied the right to cast votes for their representatives. Interestingly, some woman’s suffragists campaigned for the extension of the franchise to women not on women’s equality, but on women’s claimed superior moral character, which was needed to guide the U.S. down the right paths. By acknowledging and basing their arguments on natural differences between the sexes, the suffrage movement differed from modern feminism which emphasizes the view that the sexes are essentially the same.

The Progressive Era represented a dramatic shift when it came to many peoples’ understanding of democracy, the purpose of government, and the role it should play in our lives. It also set the stage for the New Deal, and a definition of “rights” that was also a dramatic break from tradition.

Suffragettes march in New York City in 1912 for the right of women to vote.

Related Content

The Progressive Era

Part of the Civil War’s legacy was a shift in the role of the national government. The defeat of the South, Reconstruction, and the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment gave the national government growing power over the states and the people. The Fourteenth Amendment gave the national government power (though exactly how much power was still being debated) to ensure state laws did not violate the rights of the freedmen. Additional amendments during the Progressive Era (the 1890s - 1920s) continued this transfer of power to the national government. In the name of giving power to the people, the national government was given power to tax incomes; states lost their representation in Congress, the manufacture and sale of alcohol was banned, and women achieved the right to vote.

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Essays on Progressive Era

Welcome to our collection of Progressive Era essay samples! The Progressive Era, spanning from the 1890s to the 1920s, was a time of significant social, political, and economic change in the United States. It aimed to address issues caused by industrialization, urbanization, and corruption in politics. In this article, we’ll help you understand how to choose an essay on this fascinating topic and how to write your own using our examples.

Understanding the Progressive Era

The Progressive Era was marked by reform movements that sought to improve society. People were advocating for workers' rights, women's suffrage, and better living conditions. When writing about this period, consider what specific aspect interests you the most—social reforms, political changes, or economic policies? Each theme offers a unique perspective on the era’s impact.

Choosing an Essay Sample

When looking through our Progressive Era essay samples, think about what resonates with you. Do you prefer essays that focus on major figures like Theodore Roosevelt or on grassroots movements? Perhaps you're interested in topics related to civil rights or labor laws. By narrowing down your interests within the broader theme of "Progressive Era," you'll find it easier to select an essay that serves as a strong foundation for your own work.

How to Write Your Own Essay

Once you've chosen an essay sample that inspires you, it's time to get started on your own piece! Here are some tips:

• Read Thoroughly: Take notes as you read through your selected sample. Pay attention to its structure—introduction, body paragraphs with evidence, and conclusion.
• Create an Outline: Organize your thoughts based on what you've learned from the sample. Decide which points are essential for discussing your chosen topic within the Progressive Era.
• Add Your Voice: While it’s helpful to refer back to our samples for guidance in structure and content flow, make sure you incorporate your insights and ideas into your writing.
• Cite Sources: If you're using information beyond personal knowledge or experience—including details from other sources—be sure to cite them appropriately!

Edit and Revise

Your first draft is just that—a draft! Go back through it with fresh eyes after taking a break. Check for clarity in sentences and ensure each paragraph flows logically into the next one. Consider asking a friend or family member for feedback; sometimes another set of eyes can catch things we miss!

A Final Thought

The Progressive Era is rich with material ripe for exploration in essays. With our examples at hand and these guidelines laid out before you, crafting an engaging paper will be both enjoyable and rewarding! Dive into history's lessons while expressing yourself clearly—and remember: practice makes perfect!

If you're ready now but still unsure where exactly how start digging into writing about such important times as those found during America’s Progressive Era don't hesitate check out all available resources here at [Your Website Name]. Happy writing!

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Theodore Roosevelt, Charles Evans Hughes, William Jennings Bryan, Woodrow Wilson

The Progressive Era with intense social and political reform aimed at making progress toward a better society across the United States of America that spanned the 1890s to the 1920s. During this period, reformers worked to improve American society and counteract the effect of industrialization. The main purpose of the movement was eliminating corruption in government. Many progressives were also concerned with the environment and conservation of resources.

Progressive Era movement targeted the regulations of huge monopolies and corporations, that was done through the Sherman Act of 1890, the Clayton Act of 1914, and the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914. The main purpose of the Progressive movement was the eliminating of corruption in government. The leaders of the era worked on the issues such as labor rights, women’s suffrage, economic reform, environmental protections, and the welfare of the poor, including poor immigrants.

Many Progressives supported prohibition in the United States in order to destroy the political power of local bosses based in saloons. In 1918, Congress passed the Eighteenth Amendment established prohibition of alcohol in 1920.

Between 1900 and 1915, more than 15 million immigrants arrived in the United States. The U.S. population nearly doubled between 1870 and 1900. By 1900, 30 million people, lived in cities.

The cause of women’s suffrage became a priority for many during the Progressive Era. American women finally achieved the right to vote with Nineteenth Amendment, ratified in 1920, that granted women the right to vote and forbade any suffrage restrictions based on gender.

The Progressive movement fractured after America’s entry into World War I.

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The Progressive Era in the United States History Essay

Introduction, the progressives, the end of the progressive era.

The Progressive Era in US history occurred in the early 20 th century, between 1900 and 1918, and comprised of a number of attempts to implement social and economic reforms in the country, to tackle the problems unleashed by industrialism, urbanization, and immigration. It was an era that consisted of a number of movements as members of the Democratic and Republic parties, as well as other third parties, tried to counter a multitude of problems that had resulted from events of the previous years. The movement was called “Progressive” because its advocates believed that their goals were forward-looking or progressive in nature.

Towards the end of the 19 th century, the US saw a massive influx of immigrants. These immigrants were a source of cheap labor and they served to support the wave of industrialization prevalent at the time. They sought residence in thickly populated urban areas. Soon enough, political parties used the voting prowess of these immigrant families to further their own aims and objectives, and in return, helped them by providing employment, housing, or other financial assistance. These people often lived in abject housing conditions, with dismal sanitation facilities and little or no access to health care facilities. Child labor was also an issue of concern at this time as it was a very common practice in these immigrant communities (Brinkley, 1999).

By the last decade of the 10 th century, the US business sector was witnessing large growth rates, and businesses had gained a lot of clouts, through which they monopolized the economy and exploited workers as well as ordinary citizens. Lack of government regulation and policies gave businesses a free hand to abuse. Corporations started becoming increasingly powerful and “robber barons” controlled all the rolling stock of the country, as well as other resources such as oil, coal, and all the farm produce which was delivered to the east. While farmers and ranchers grew their own crops and food, if they wanted to sell their produce at a profit, they would have to adhere to a fixed set price (Brinkley, 1999).

During this time a large number of people belonging predominantly to the middle class started raising their voice against these practices. Industrialization and availability of cheap labor had led to a monopolistic situation where large national corporations hoarded economic power and formed “trusts” to do away with chief competitors. Mergers reigned supreme as in the span between 1897 and 1904, 4,227 firms combined and became 257 corporations. The largest merger was the one in which U.S. Steel Corp, at one time the largest corporation in the world, was formed after the consolidation of nine other steel companies. The concentration of wealth and power was such that in 1904, 318 countries were responsible for 40 percent of the country’s manufacturing output and only one firm generated more than 50 percent of the output in 78 industries (Foner & Garraty, 1991).

The Progressives then comprised coalitions of intellectuals, politicians, and activists who belonged mostly to the traditional upper and middle-class establishment. A large number of them belonged to urban centers and were White Protestants. They were strong opponents of the corruption and exploitation that prevailed in society at the time. They strived to grant workers their basic rights as well as protect the citizens of the country. The movement started out at a local, rudimentary level but soon gained strength and advanced to the state and eventually the national level. They wanted workers to be provided with equitable pay, a safer working environment, lesser work hours, and increased benefits. They staunchly opposed child labor, as they believed children should attain education instead of laboring in mines and factories. Their core agenda was social justice, social and income equality, stricter government regulation, and public safety (Brinkley, 1999).

The Progressives did not agree with the views and version of social justice propagated by the new emergent class of government and political figures as they had their own set of democratic ideals. Since they belonged to relatively more privileged backgrounds than the common worker, they took it as their social responsibility to make an effort to improve the living and working conditions of the lower classes of society. There were others, who acted out of their own self-interest to tackle the economic and social problems of the time. Had they not been successful in implementing the reforms that they did, the economic and social class structure of the US might have deteriorated completely as it did in Russia in later years. Many upper-class members became apprehensive about the possibilities which a Socialist and Marxist society could hold for them, and to curb this trend, they decided to become advocates of more moderate reforms to reduce the social tensions between the upper and lower classes and protect their privileged stature in society (Scott, 1958).

The Progressives also comprised a number of muckraker journalists who played a vital role in exposing the economic and social malaise which prompted government action later on. Famous for his role is Jacob Riis, a Danish-American social reformer and journalist who wrote his magnum opus “How the Other Half Lives” in 1890. His was a pioneering effort at photojournalism which paved the way for more muckraking journalism, as it showed the filthy and sordid conditions of the New York City slums at that time. It was through this book that a vast number of middle- and upper-class citizens found about the poor living conditions, legislation regarding the housing standards in tenements gained importance, and the Police Commissioner at the time, Theodore Roosevelt clamped down police-run poor houses (Foner & Garraty, 1991).

Lincoln Steffens published “The Shame of the Cities” in 1904, through which he sought to document the political corruption which was so common in the major cities such as Chicago and New York. He wanted to provoke people to pursue reform by exposing the evils of politicians who catered to the interests of businessmen seeking favors. “The Jungle” was published by Upton Sinclair in 1906 and based on the exploitation an immigrant family faces, it exposed the poverty, miserable living and working conditions of the lower classes, the unhygienic ways in which the meatpacking industry functioned, and the rampant corruption in the richer segments of society. The public outcry which resulted led to the establishment of minimum standards for food and drug production as the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act were enacted in 1906 (Foner & Garraty, 1991).

Theodore Roosevelt, who became president in 1901, went on to become one of the most influential personalities of the Progressive Era. He did not conform to the pro-business stance his own Republican Party had adopted for so long, instead, implemented measures to curtail the monopolistic practices of business. He was the driving force behind the Bureau of Corporations, the purpose of which was to investigate and govern the big business. He was known as the “trust-buster” as he asked Congress to limit the power of trusts. He believed that “such increased supervision is the only alternative to an increase of the present evils on the one hand or a still more radical policy on the other.” When Congress did not extent restrictions, he acted himself and issued more than 40 lawsuits against major corporations. he distrusted big businesses as he found them more often corrupt than not, and his famous anti-trust lawsuit against the J. P. Morgan-controlled large railroad trust, Northern Securities Company, led to its dissolution in 1904 (Foner & Garraty, 1991).

Roosevelt was also instrumental in giving the government greater powers within the economy, and one way he did so was by supporting the power of organized labor as they attempted to exert influence over their employers. The Anthracite Coal Strike in 1902 was a national emergency which Roosevelt resolved by becoming the first president to get actively involved in the labor dispute. He supported the workers, even to the extent of threatening the coal mine owners with sending the U.S. army if they did not settle the issue through arbitration. Along with the food and drug safety acts mentioned earlier, Roosevelt was also responsible for the Elkins Act (1903) and the Hepburn Act (1906) as he aimed to pursue one of his foremost goals of railroad regulation (Foner & Garraty, 1991).

After Roosevelt, William Taft followed his predecessor’s Progressive philosophy as he filed anti-trust lawsuits suits, continued and extended Roosevelt’s public land conservation policies, established a Children’s Bureau in the Labor Department, and attempted to get the Mann-Elkins Act of 1910 approved by the Congress as a further measure to regulate the railroads. Woodrow Wilson, who followed Taft and became President in 1912, was another famous intellectual of the Progressive Era who has significant achievements to his credit. As Weibe (1958) stated, “the common denominator for this mixture of campaigns was an attempt to create a more equitable balance of privilege and power in American society” (Foner & Garraty, 1991).

Wilson did not conform to the New Nationalism policy of Roosevelt as the latter had made human rights versus property rights, and a powerful federal government to ensure a regulated economy and social justice for all his agenda during the elections of 1912. Wilson on the other hand followed a policy known as New Freedom which differed from Roosevelt’s stance in various ways, particularly with regard to antitrust modification, as he believed that “If America is not to have free enterprise, she can have freedom of no sort whatever.” While both were united on the abuse of power by the government, Wilson had different ideas on the ways that the American government should control private power. He did not file a large number of lawsuits as his predecessors had but formed the Federal Trade Commission in 1914 to ensure fair business dealings. He lowered basic tariff rates under the Underwood Act of 1913 and implemented banking and currency-related reforms. Moreover, he was responsible for striving hard and eventually succeeding in getting the Clayton Antitrust Act in 1914 to further tighten antitrust regulation. This legislation renders price discrimination and other monopolizing or uncompetitive agreements illegal and was a formative milestone in U.S. antitrust law (Foner & Garraty, 1991).

Other notable Progressives included the politician Robert M. La Follette who was Governor of Wisconsin and a Republican Senator. He made attempts to take away power that the political machines had accumulated and which they shared with big businesses to exploit others. He was a proponent of a broader base of citizen participation in elections. In a number of states, mostly in the West, progressives supported a version of direct democracy which would, following a system of “Initiative and Referendum” allow citizens to propose new legislation, review current laws and participate in a referendum on important issues. The direct election of U.S. senators was part of a series of reforms called the Wisconsin Idea, which also included worker’s compensation and progressive taxation. These were strongly advocated by La Follette and all of these were eventually adopted. The 17 th Amendment was ratified in 1913 and replaced the old system of election or appointment of senators by state legislature giving the people of a state the power to elect their own. The current system of “primaries” in U.S. elections also has its roots in the Progressive Era and the Wisconsin Idea (Foner & Garraty, 1991).

At this time, women were struggling to secure their right to vote and were involved in other social issues as well. Starting from 1910 suffrage referendums were being held in several states and the 1912 suffrage referendums approvals in Arizona, Kansas, and Oregon were a major stepping stone for the nineteenth amendment which was passed in 1920 and extended the right to vote to women. Women were also actively involved in pursuing political reform, providing social welfare aid, and forming groups to promote safe and equitable working conditions (Brinkley, 1999).

Other significant events of this time were the temperance movement and the immigration restriction movement. As the prohibition movement gained momentum at the local and state levels, by the beginning of the 20 th century, it had become a national movement. Their purpose was finally achieved in 1919 when the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified which enforced a ban on the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol. They opposed immigration and in later years, during the 1920s, enacted many immigration restrictions (Brinkley, 1999).

As the international situation worsened and the background to World War I was laid, the attention of policymakers shifted from domestic matters. In the later years of prosperity, the focus shifted to more pragmatic concerns on the domestic and international front. Nevertheless, the span between 1900 and 1914 was an important time in U.S. history as it established strong foundations for a relatively fair, industrialized economy free from exploitation and corruption. While aspects of the Progressives’ beliefs and ideas remain today, by the late 1920s, the Progressive Movement had virtually disappeared.

Brinkley, Alan. American History: A Survey. New York: McGraw Hill, 1999.

Foner, Eric & Garraty, John. The Reader’s Companion to American History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991.

Scott, A. M. “The Progressive Era in Perspective.” The Journal of Politics , 21.4. (1959): 685-701.

Weibe, Robert. “Business Disunity and the Progressive Movement, 1901-1914.” The Mississippi Valley Historical Review 44.4 (1958): 664-685.

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