Triangle Shirtwaist Factory The Progressive Era was a difficult time for workers. It was a time where many workers were getting hurt or killed on the job, paid low wages, had little to no safety requirements and worked long hours. It was even more difficult because it seemed as owners never really cared about their workers or their safety. All of that changed after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire that showed how bad the working conditions and safety of workers was.
Farmers and industrial workers wanted three main things during the Progressive era. These three things were shorter working hours, better pay, and a graduated income tax. Farmers and industrial workers had ten hour working days previous to the Adamson Act. This act shortened the amount of working hours from ten to eight thanks to President Wilson who insisted this act be put into effect. Workers were also unfairly paid if compared to the amount of work and trouble they go through.
Presidents of Progressive Era During the Progressive Era, America society experienced immense changes in regards to business, politics, ethnic. Taking on the huge responsibilities, the presidents of that period, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, actively worked toward equality and social justice. Following by the assassination of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, at his middle age with an exuberant personality, succeeded to the office. He was a preservationist, a trustbuster, promoting “Square Deal” and food safety policies. However, his major contribution to the era was on railroad regulation which eliminated corruption in interstate commerce.
The Progressive Era is one of the reasons America still stands strong today. It lasted from the 1890’s to the 1920’s and seeked to reform American policies and government. There are 3 main people who have contributed to the Progressive area - Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. These three presidents enforced and introduced laws and regulations that allowed more flexibility and choice for the people, and they are still in use today. If it weren’t for them, America would still be overly ruled by corporations and silenced by the government and our people would be sick.
There was many successes and failures during the Progressive Era, however to me the most important success was the women suffrage and the biggest failure was child labor. Women suffrage was a success because it allowed women to vote. For instance, women were not listen to during this time this in fact anger the women. However, after fighting for so long woman could vote and give their opinion. Women suffrage was also a success because ever since then women have become consider to making decisions such as choosing the next president.
As previously mentioned, industrialization significantly altered how work was done in the United States. At this time, large corporations began popping up and taking over the industry. By this I mean, they either bought out smaller family business’ or ran them out of business due to the power and control they had over the United States economy. Moreover, because large corporations tend to be much less “personal” and much more “profit,” working conditions were often not to code, or plain outright illegal; nonetheless, the exploitation of cheap work was possible because Americans had few choices. Former president, Theodore Roosevelt (TR), was one of the most important important Progressives; especially in relation with business.
“According to one survey in the 1890s, the average workweek in these shops was eighty four hours—twelve hours every day of the week. During a busy season, it was not unusual to find workers on stools or broken chairs, bent over their sewing or hot irons, from 5 A.M. to 9 P.M., a hundred or more hours per week.” Workers were also usually not paid more than four dollars per week. This caused readers to believe that no one should be treated this way, which caused more of them to support Progressive
During the late 1800’s a seemingly impossible uphill battle for equality and rights gained a new ally in the Progressive Movement, whose main goal was to enact reform in a practical, plausible way. Before this Movement social conditions were worsening across the United States and inequality in politics ran rampant, to spread the news of this new forms of media and campaigning arose, and after the Progressive Movement ran its course it left a drastic imprint on the history of American reform. This era is famous for its changes and philosophies that governed America and its people such as the argument between Conservationists and Preservationists or the issue of tariffs that had persisted since the birth of the United States, but what the Progressive
The Progressive Era had mainly focused on improving social and economic issues such as poverty, violence, greed, class structure, monopolies and trusts, corruption and etc. I, Jane Addams, am a middle class woman and a progressive worker who has been one of the many who have faced constant unethical social conditions that occurs along the urban streets following rapid industrialization in America. I have witnessed that the influx of immigrants who’ve migrated to America have struggled in engaging in the numerous opportunities America has to offer; due to them lacking an education and knowledge in various areas. I propose that a solution to this problem would be establishing settlement houses to where I suggest it would assist and provide social and educational services to predominantly immigrant residents to who subside in crowded streets of America. One of my closest friends, Ellen Gates Starr, and I have pondered on the idea of naming one of the many settlement houses to be named the “Hull House” where it would be located in Chicago and also provide such services to those in nearby communities and neighborhoods as well.
After the Civil War, our country was battered and beaten, but it rebuilt itself over time and spread its policies, as well as manufacturing practices, throughout our country. Early in the 20th century, members of our nation started to look at some of these practices and policies and began to question their merit and whether they assisted our population or not. Many people were involved in the progressive movement in America from the presidents to a slew of popular authors and photographers. The one thing that they had in common was that they saw problems with how various industries in our nation performed that they knew needed to be fixed. They did not always agree on everything, such as immigration, but they always had the nation’s best interest at heart.
During the Progressive time, the main goal was to expand the government to a social setting instead of a political environment. African Americans were considered inferior to the white culture. Child labor was seen in all factories, they would work in the cruelest conditions for little to no pay. During this time, it was Congress’ decision whether or not child labor was legal or not. In present day, African American have a lot more freedom than written in history.
During the Progressive Era, most employers were not concerned with workers rights and focused more on profit than human rights or safety. The poor working class, as well as immigrants who had worked in the United States for a while, became infuriated over the unfair treatment and working conditions of which they suffered. Hugh Rockoff explains, “…industrialization had alienated the workingman…” (Rockoff 747).
The progressive era which lasted from 1890-1920 in American society was the institution of radical reforms brought about by the millions of Americans involved in volunteer organizations across the country. During this time Americans worked to create solutions to the problems caused by the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the country. The progressive era was not a single movement, but rather a collection of movements all of which were intended to improve the lives of Americans. This was a truly remarkable time for women and the end of the era would see almost universal women’s suffrage with the passing of the nineteenth amendment in 1920.
The progressive era had a huge impact on today's society, Womens suffrage was the most biggest problem we had. Women should earn the same respect that men have. They should earn the same wages as the me have. Once people starting noticing that and started realizing that women are not that much different and that there still human being too
Labor itself made a lot of gains during the Progressive Era, mostly at the state level; however government gave no support to unions. Labor failed to organize basic industries, while most judges cared about property than human rights and issued injunctions. President Taft was Roosevelt’s predecessor in 1909. Prices were rising so midwesterners blamed it on the Dingley Tariff. President Taft said he would lower tariffs,but “old guard” Republicans raised them instead.
