The Benefits of the Progressive Movement
Devon Sanders
The Benefits of the Progressive Movement
The late nineteenth through early twentieth century was a true time of change in America. The transformation the United States went through during this time period shaped the country from a developing, young country into a powerful, strong nation. The biggest changes that affected America were those made during the progressive movement. The reforms made during this movement promoted success and comfort to middle and lower classes, and gave a voice to many who really hadn’t had one before. The changes brought on by the progressive movement proved to be beneficial to America both socially and economically, and prepared them for the role of a world power.
Socially, the progressive movement benefitted the United States in that it redefined American’s role in government, radically changed how women were viewed, and introduced consumer protection. The middle class felt taken advantage of and unrepresented. They wanted a voice, and wanted the government to benefit them, instead of just the wealthy. With additions to voting such as direct primaries, initiative, and referendum, regular Americans were able to have a much more powerful voice in government and in how and who they wanted to see the government help. Journalist Lincoln Steffens writes, “We [the middle class] should rule parties, and cities, and states, and nation. If we would vote in mass on the more promising ticket… the commercial politician would feel a demand for good government and he would supply it (Lincoln, 134). These reforms encouraged the working-class to get involved in government, which as a result led to more reform in business workers rights. The middle class also worked to get corruption out of politics. Before, large corporate leaders and political machines had really been in charge of government, and really only helped themselves in the work they did. With these changes, hard working middle-class citizens were able to have more power, and make fair changes that benefitted the whole nation. Because of the changes made in terms of elections and just in government itself, the middle class, who became the progressives, came together and made progress, helping the lower class and really improving American life all together. One of the biggest ways progressive’s changed American identity was in terms of women’s rights.
The 19thamendment, and women’s role in general, was one of the biggest transformations during this time period. Even before women got the vote, they worked to bring attention to an issue that they were really personally affected by, and that was the issue of temperance. Women were stuck in unhappy and often dangerous marriages and families of husbands who had spent all of their money on alcohol and there was little to do about it. Because of this, women spearheaded the fight to criminalize alcohol, and it was really seen as their cause. A women’s group, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, summarized their efforts by writing, “ The W.C.T.U stands at the exponent, not alone of that return to physical sanity which will follow the downfall of the drink habit, but of the reign of a religion of the body which for the first time in history shall correlate with Christ’s wholesome, practical, yet blessedly spiritual religion of the soul” (W.C.T.U Blasts Drinking and Smoking, and demands the power to protest, 127). Even though prohibition didn’t end up lasting, the point that women could hold their own and be as powerful as they were, was something that was important to the continuing right of women being permitted. These changes began to shift the way women were viewed in America. As Michael McGerr explains, ““In the 1880s and 1890s, the marriage rate for white Americans decreased… the generation of women arriving at maturity came the least likely to marry in American history. Once marries, couples postponed having their first child… Perhaps not surprisingly, there was an increase in divorce rates as well” (McGerr, 139). Women were not just gaining the right to participate in government, but beginning the journey to equality. For the first time in American history, women’s expected roles expanded beyond of those of a wife and a mother. It became normal for women to be working, not only focusing on marriage and raising children. An advertisement for Singer features a plethora of pictures showing women working with their machines (Singer sells American Notion of Progress for Women, 99.) Even large companies were promoting the evolving role of women in America. This transformation promoted so many more opportunities for women, all due to the progressive movement, and gave a strong message to other countries. People all over the world were inspired by the freedom of women and power they had in America. English Suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst writes, “ In the summer of 1902- Susan B. Anthony paid a visit to Manchester and that visit was one of the contributory causes that led to the founding of our militant suffrage organization, the Women’s Social and Political Union” (Pankhurst, 137). America led the women’s rights movement, and people all over the world followed. Women saw the changes and improvements that were going on in America, and wanted the same thing. The United States was relatively new compared to other nations and was now leading a revolutionary idea that women could be more than just mothers and wives.
Social reforms in consumer protection also attributed to the success of this time period in American history. Reforms like the Meat and Sanitation Act, Pure Food and Drug Act, and adding warning labels to medicine truly gave Americans a peace of mind about the food and drugs they were consuming. With growing industries and advanced transportation that allowed food made on one side of the country be shipped to the other side, Americans didn’t know who exactly was making their food and medicines. Because of these progressive developments, Americans could be surer that the things they were putting in their bodies were safe and healthy. The guarantee of safer foods stretched over to other countries as well. Consumers in other nations could also be sure that the products that were coming from America would be safe. This increased trade, and allowed other countries to trust America and American industry. Consumer protection also meant that the government was able to oversee what large corporations were doing and how they ran their business. This was beneficial for the attempt to stop corruption in America at this time, and for the government to be more involved in industry and workers rights.
In terms of the economy, the progressive movement was beneficial in contributing trust busting, worker’s reform, and the spread of American power all over the world. Reforms such as the Federal Trade Commission, Clayton Act, and Sherman Antitrust Act, worked to break up monopolies and stop monopolistic business. Monopolies were very powerful, and often led to unfair conditions for workers, and corruption. These companies were so large that they really could do anything in terms of pricing, often using that very principle to take advantage of consumers. Also, monopolies regularly ran small business out of business, making the corporations sheer size and influence devastating to many small business owners and workers. Monopolies only catered to wealthy businessmen, and that is exactly what the progressive movement attempted to stop. These trust-busting practices gave the government control to affect business, and stop the practices they saw as dangerous to many middle and lower class Americans. Also, trust busting allowed small business to thrive in a more free market economy, permitting competition between companies, and business for more people. Finally, with the breakdown of huge corporations, and as a result smaller business, workers had more of a say. The fewer employees, the more they could voice their concerns about their rights. With smaller corporations and fewer employees, workers felt more inclined to speak up, which in result led to worker’s reform.
In short, workers wanted fewer hours, better pay, and better working conditions. The progressive movement completely encompassed trying to improve working conditions for industry workers, most of who were middle to lower class. Child labor laws were created to ensure that children would be able to go to school. This allowed children of middle and lower class families to get an education, instead of simply work in a factory their whole lives, as most had expected to do before. The whole point was to give these children a better opportunity, and with many children laborers being immigrants, a chance at the real American dream of success and wealth. Child labor laws allowed all children, regardless of race, wealth, or upbringing, to enhance their lives and strive for more than just a factory job. Other reforms, such as breaks, fewer hours, and better pay, improved the lives of so many Americans. They could enjoy their family, rest, and not be so worried that they might not be able to have enough money to support their families. Also with these reforms, working class citizens were much happier with the government, and continued to contribute and be involved in the progressive movement.
The benefits of the progressive movement were publicized and broadcasted all over the world. Countries saw the success that America was having, and wanted it. Everything American started becoming a symbol of efficiency and success. For example, a powerful company called singer which sold sewing machines, began selling all over the world. Everyone wanted one, because American’s had them. America’s success inspired less successful nations, for example, Zululand, a small African country (Singer Sells Sewing Machines to Modern Zulus, 98). The spread of American goods throughout the world gave the United States a reputation and power that other countries wanted. “Singer… [had] become symbolic of American commercial dominance” (Domosh, 123). America’s accomplishments in industry and business led to stronger business ties with other countries, which wanted to create alliances and relations with the United States. As other countries sought to interact with America, Americans felt is was their duty to help others as their government, a strong democracy, had helped them. Americans during the progressive movement felt that their government had really helped them, and wanted to spread democracy to other nations. Future President Theodore Roosevelt persuaded Americans to embrace imperialism and says, “the timid man, the lazy man, the man who distrusts his country, the over-civilized man, who has lost the great fighting, masterful virtues, the ignorant man and the man of a dull mind, whose soul is incapable of feeling the mighty lift that thrills ‘stern men with empires in their brains’- all of these, or course, shrink from seeing the nation undertake its new duties… shrink from seeing us do our share of the world’s work” (Roosevelt, 102). The United States felt it was their duty to promote and spread the same type of government that had led them to their success throughout the world. Americans responded and embraced their new influence in the world as a global power.
The progressive movement was truly a huge time of change in American history. The reforms made by the government helped those who had been neglected throughout history. The progressive movement symbolized democracy at its best; attempting to better the lives of all Americans and get citizens involved in politics. The social and economic benefits of the progressive movement not only benefitted society from 1890-1920, but continue to support citizens today.
