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Progressive Era Dbq

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Ronan G & Maeve H
AP US History
Lange
2/25/23
The Progressive Era in American history lasted roughly from 1890 to 1920 and was a period of social and political activism aimed at addressing many of the problems created by rapid industrialization and urbanization. During this time, progressives sought to bring about significant reforms in American democracy, particularly in areas such as government accountability, economic regulation, and social justice. To evaluate the extent to which the efforts of progressives were successful, we can examine some of the key reforms that were successful during this period.The Progressive Era in American history lasted roughly from 1890 to 1920 and was a period of social and political activism aimed at addressing …show more content…

How to best fix this corrupt system of labor was a great debate. The first major leap in the right direction was the creation of minimum wage laws, the regulation of working hours, and the prohibition of child labor. These laws clapped down on Gilded Age ideas by ensuring that owners would no longer exploit workers and maintain fair working conditions. Furthermore, worker compensation laws required employers to compensate employees who became injured or ill while on the job. This law helped to provide workers with greater financial security and protection. This would have been difficult if it wasn't for books like “How the Other Half Live” and “The Jungle” (Document B). These books, written by muckrakers, Upton Sinclair and Jacob Riis, informed the public about the corruption and decay of the U.S. labor system. “The Jungle” had such a large impact that President Roosevelt passed the Clean Food and Drug Act, which established requirements for manufacturers to meet certain quality and safety standards. This law effectively protected the public from dangerous and harmful products and ensured that they had access to accurate information about the products they were consuming. This also encouraged businesses to make their operations safer if they wanted to keep employees working and retain their customers. These laws create an evident divide between eras, ultimately closing the curtain on the Gilded Age and ushering in this new Progressive

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