Pros And Cons Of The Progressive Era

Trusts, or large monopolies, were corporations that combined and lowered their prices to drive competitors out of the business. This infuriated many americans at that time because it allowed such a small number of people to become wealthy, or even successful at all. When Theodore Roosevelt became president, he sympathized with workers unlike most of the presidents in the past who usually tried to help the corporations. As illustrated in Document A, Roosevelt wanted to hunt down the bad trusts ad put a leash on the good ones in order to regulate them. However, it only had a limited effect because the government was unable to control the activity of banks and railroads which were two of the most powerful industries in the world.

During the Progressive Era there were multiple of changes occurring that people became overwhelmed. New resources in the oil market, industrialization, fights for equality. There were many factory jobs, however, no one to stand up for the workers. So of course people will turn to their government for help, the power house of the country. However, even the government was picky in what they helped with.

Everyday life was filled with bribing government officials, fraud and manipulation. They also called this era “The forgettable presidents” because of the little real power they had. No one took orders from the government, they were more focused on rebuilding society. In fact, Andrew Johnson was impeached from office because of the amount of distaste towards him. The business world wasn’t the only thing corrupt but the railroads were too.

The owners forced them to live in isolated communities near workshops and forced them to buy goods with high interests. The cities were poorly constructed and crowded with people and residents. The work was also dangerous with not much supervising by the government.Workers, on the other hand, had little or even no bargaining power to leave the unsafe conditions. Nowadays, When Americans only pay attention when extreme work strike, levels of abuse are the norm hidden in the factories around the globe. Although the condition seems much improved, consumers don’t know the true fact- “Today, American citizens simply cannot know the working conditions of the factories that make the products they buy.

Why did it take so long for America to allow women’s suffrage during the Progressive Era? Progressives in America did analyze and attempt to solve the unjust and unfair problems that emerged with the increasing number of immigrants, unregulated businesses, urban cities, and economic disparity. There was exploitation of people by the rich and powerful. Even though women contributed behind the scenes during wars and started to represent in work forces, there was still opposition towards their right to vote. At that time, men of the country probably had the notion that women were still not educated enough to be involved in politics.

During the time of the Progressive Era in 1900s-1920s, the majority of the American believed that the industrialization, immigration, and the urbanization had produced critical social disorders and believes that reforms were needed to be reshaped America. They also believed that it was time to eliminate the problem caused by the corruption in the government and promote the improvement in order to address the social and economic problems. People like Theodore Roosevelt and W.E.B.Du Bois also accepted that change was needed to improve and develop. The major changes were made in social, economic and political reforms. But, was the Progressive Era a success?

As America entered the Gilded Age, its urban population grew, nativists resisted minorities, government corruption was rampant, and immigrant populations increased substantially (Shi and Tindall 626-644). Government corruption was exemplified by the patronage system, under which loyal supporters of politicians were given government jobs (Shi and Tindall 641). Most of the immigrants from this period were from southern and eastern European countries, such as Russia, Poland, Greece, and Italy, and were judged as inferior by many Americans because of their cultural differences (Shi and Tindall 630). Immigrants also caused tension during WWI because of their lingering loyalties to nations on either side of the conflict (Chapter 21 Overview). A combination of factors, including manifest destiny and a need for raw materials and naval bases, eventually prompted the U.S. to adopt the practice of imperialism (Shi and Tindall 666).

The dictatorial years of Porfirio was known as “Porfiriato” lasted from 1876 to 1911. Throughout the “Porfiriato” the country maintained stable and began modernizing, consequently this caused major uproar with the citizens as they claimed he was a president who gave Mexico away. Porfirio brought in foreign countries to create a trade with the abundant resources that Mexico possessed, which should have brought an economic boost to the citizens, but because a vast majority were stuck in a form of labor they were not able to experience any economic help or growth. Unfortunately, indigenous people and poor people experienced the most harm from the modernising that Porfirio tried to incorporate into Mexican society. Towards the end of his reign, Porfirio began to experience civil unrest and revolts of the workers in the new modern industries he had brought into the country.

Theodore Roosevelt's anti-trust act stopped robber barons in their track's. The Anti-Sherman Trust Act wast the first act to outlaw monopolistic businesses which is reducing the fair market competition of enterprises and monopolies. Theodore Roosevelt sued J.P. Morgan for bad trust's and won the case in The Supreme Court. This was a turning point in America because robber barons didn't own America anymore. It was a time of greed, corruption, and broken capitalism was common in America.

Progressives distanced themselves from these ideas, although they saw the truth in some of the comments Eugene V. Debbs, and organizer of the American Socialist Party, about the uneven balance of power between big business, government, and the average people. Journalists in magazines also began to write about the corrupt side of big business in public life, earning them the name muckrakers. The main goals of the progressive era, protecting social welfare, promoting moral improvement, and creating economic reform, were somewhat successful. Although some of the most radical ideas were not put into action or made permanent, through hard work, Americans came together in strong efforts and managed improve economic opportunities and correct injustices in American