The Progressive Era And Social Welfare Reform

The Progressive Era lasted from the 1890’s to the early 1920’s. It was centralized around socialism and political reform. One of the major changes that took place during this era, was the labor legislation. Many workers were working long shifts, for several days straight, making their work life just about unbearable, and unworkable conditions. The job environment had become to where it was unsafe, unsanitary, and unregulated conditions for very low wages.

Reforming the Government During the years 1890 to 1920, there was a group of people called the Progressives they identified many problems that they saw in the city at the time. The Progressives were a diverse group of people from every work of life for example: journalists, Democratic politicians, Republican politicians, industry leaders, and many more. They agreed to use scientific principles in order to identify problems, offer solutions, and then in a rational ways solve these problems. For example, a group of journalists who utilized the Progressive ideals were called, “ the Muckrakers,” which helped spread knowledge about political and social problems. The Progressive’s believed society had these problems because of industrialization and organization, however, that is not completely correct.

The Progressive Era of the early 1900s was a period of economic growth in the United States. Millions flocked to the cities like New York in pursuit of wealth, freedom, and a chance at making a better life for themselves and their families. As a prime focus during the Progressive Era, women challenged social and political barriers, which led to their empowerment and a new female political agenda. Women began to become more prominent in the workplace and by 1920, nearly 25 percent of employed women had office jobs or worked as a telephone operator (Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty! An American History Volume 2, 700).

Chapter 18 entitled The Progressive Era starts by recounting the fire that broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company which resulted in the death in a number of immigrant workers who were trying to make an honest living. These workers were locked in to deter them from leaving early and insure that productivity stayed at a certain level. Unfortuately due to unforeseen events many people died but their loss of life ensured that this practice would never happen again and it also resulted in building codes and why the regulation of the industry. This fire wasn't even the worst one in history the General Slocum resulted in more deaths years prior but I guess the old saying rings true its better late than never reguarding building and fire codes.

Welfare America, home of the brave, the free, and the blessed! In this country many programs have been established to help those in need. One of these programs is welfare. Welfare is a public assisting aid, which gives citizens who live in the minimal level of poverty free money. This program is funded from the taxes payed by all working Americans.

The progressive era changed the face of America it impacted so well to today's society. Without the women's suffrage and everything that happened today's society would not be the way it is. The main thing that happened in the progressive movement was eliminating corruption in the government. The progressive era was around the 20th century. Without the progressive era our society would be so different.

The Progressive Era, from 1890- 1920 was an influential time in American history. There was political reform in an effort to bring about social justice, but it was also a time when big businesses thrived. However, in the past their prominence and power went unchecked, now liberal radicals started fighting for justice, making the government control the corporations before they destroyed the country. With big businesses growing at a quick pace, they needed more management, known as middle management, to control it. Alfred Chandler, a business professor, specifically a economist, analyzes this in chapter eight, “Mass Production” from his book, The Visible Hand: The Managerial Revolution in American Business.

The progressives of the late 1800s and early 1900s may not have been a society or a union, but they were united under a common cause. That common cause was the need for change, and not just small changes; but the need for changes at the local, state, and national level. As they are now, things were far from perfect during the Progressive Era, and progressives sought to improve social welfare, worker rights, conservation of the country’s resources, and more. Of all of the issues with the United States’ social welfare in the early 1900s, the circumstances of child labor were arguably the worst.

The progressive era was moderately effective from achieving social reform and lowering the influence of businesses over the people. An example would be the women's movement in 1800s. The women's suffrage movements were a constant struggle with lot’s of strikes and protests. Finally in 1920 the 19th amendment came to past allowing women to vote federally. Another example would be the passing of building heath codes, and fire safety regulations.

II. Rural Planning and Social Legislations: The Protestant Church and Social Welfare in Rural Canada The first two articles clearly demonstrated a conflict of interest based on the reformers assumptions that the rural society would benefit from progressivism. Nancy Christie and Michael Gauvreau’s article presents this argument by highlighting the role of the Protestant clergymen in ushering a social reform movement based on their issues with rural leadership. The motives behind the social reform initially began with the concern of the Protestant clergymen in increasing rural church attendance, but eventually shifted towards a movement for community reconstruction and social planning towards progressivism.

Karen Cortez Professor Bell HIST 1302-81420 September 24, 2017 Written Exercise 2 The progressives were a group of well-educated people who were concerned about the poor working environments of others and wanted to protect consumers and other problems that existed in the 1900’s. In 1911, workers had died in the Triangle Shirtwaist fire, some jumped to their deaths while others were burned. Work safety was an important issue for the progressives. Progressives wanted to end corruption and make the government more attentive to the people’s needs.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Second New Deal brought about the American Welfare State. This was a program that helped create help for people struggling in the United States. Under the Social Security Act of 1935, unemployment insurance, and old age pensions became possible. Help was also offered to elderly, families with dependent children, and those with disabilities.