During the time of the progressive era, Americans found themselves amidst an upsurge in the lower class and upper class, leaving middle class lifestyle dwindling. In the years of progressivism, Americans turned to correct the problems brought about by industrialization and urbanization. As said earlier, the progressive movement was a collaboration of many different types of reformers from urban liberalism to feminism. All of the progressive reformers sought for a fairly uniform goal of balance of power and equality with women seeking suffrage, African-Americans seeking equality, and workers seeking basic labor rights. Mass-circulation magazines were very important in spreading the word of progressivism and the journalists who contributed to those magazines were often called muckrakers. Writers like Lincoln Steffens and Ida Tarbell began to expose the ills in society, government, commerce, and industry. They wrote about the unsafe foods and medicines that were being sold on the open market without any governmental protection for the consumer, or without any regulation by the government. They received their name, "muckrakers," from President Theodore Roosevelt who said they were raking through the muck of American society. Probably the most influential muckraker was Upton Sinclair who wrote "The Jungle”, which exposed the unsafe and unsanitary conditions of meat processing in the Chicago slaughterhouses.
These notable muckrakers worked hand in hand with reformers through their attempts to change the American political system and introducing new social innovations with regards to social justice, education, and the women’s movement. A large part of progressivism was the impulse toward social justice, which covered everything from private charity to campaigns against child labor and liquor. The industrial and urban revolution made many believe that the social evils that resulted extended beyond the reach of private charities and demanded the power of the state. Consequently, the best way to achieve social justice was through legislation. The National Child Labor Committee, organized in 1904, led a movement for laws banning the still widespread employment of young children. Another group, the National Consumers League, led by the ardent socialist Florence Kelley, led a crusade for the passage of legislation that regulated the hours of work for women, especially wives and mothers. Many states also outlawed night work and labor in dangerous occupations for both women and children. This progressive action being made towards labor exposes how corrupt the factories were, proving to the country that change was much needed. Another area that the progressives sought to address was education due to the evolving need for schools. In the late 19th century, when America was predominantly rural, most children worked on the family farm instead of attending school. The urban revolution swelled the cities with millions of children who now had more time for school. Additionally, urban taxpayers provided the funds for the construction of schools, making mass education a reality by the early 20th century. Progressives knew that education was the means for transforming society and teachers emphasized academic and personal growth, where children could use their intellect to deal with and control their environment. Personal growth also became the driving force in American Universities. By restructuring the notion of education, the progressive reformers opened the door to a generation of well-educated children intent on improving American society.
Though the reformer’s work in the social and cultural aspects of America were instrumental, the most important reform with which the Progressives tried was to democratize government with the Direct Primary, or the nomination of candidates by the vote of party members. Under the existing convention system, only a small percentage of the voters attended the local caucuses or precinct meetings that sent delegates to county, state, and national elections. This allowed the rise of professional politicians who stayed in office for extremely long periods of time. In 1896, South Carolina adopted the first statewide primary, and within two decades this system had been implemented by nearly all states for Senators and congressmen. Finally, the Seventeenth Amendment, ratified in 1913, authorized the direct election of senators by popular vote. The primary system was but one expression of a broad movement for direct democracy. During the period many states passed the Initiative, Referendum, and Recall. The initiative, first passed in 1898 in South Dakota, provided the opportunity for citizens to create legislation by getting a set number of signatures on a petition. The electorate would then vote the issue up or down, this being the referendum. The recall provided the opportunity to remove officials by petition and vote. This use of democracy can best be described as a liberal renaissance rather than a triumph of conservatism because it effectively gave the people an attainable active voice in politics while still upholding the basic two party competitive nature of the American political system.
Progressivism was an era that desired movement toward reform; it was not a single instance but based on a series of advancements. America was in turmoil due to internal problems and was in dire need of social reforms. It was a response to the political and social challenges that begged for reform. Many people were involved in Progressivism, especially the middle class and even the immigrants and hard laborers took some initiative in hopes to refine the system. Collectively, the people strived to achieve success in change. However, with success came additional issues such as racism and moralism. The issue of utmost importance was big business monopolies, corruption within a supposed democratic government and the nation in social ruins, a mess of poverty and low morale. The series of actions that demanded and granted changes in the society of the nation created an era that was recognized for the progressive movement that led to outcomes that changed the socioeconomic status of America.
Jaycox, Faith. The Progressive Era. Facts on File, 2007.
Henretta, James A., and David Brody. America: A Concise History, Volume 2: Since 1865. Bedford/st Martins, 2010. 581. Print.
Henretta, James A., and David Brody. America: A Concise History, Volume 2: Since 1865. Bedford/st Martins, 2010. 583. Print.
Sabato, Larry, and Howard R. Ernst. Encyclopedia Of American Political Parties And Elections. Facts on File, 2006. 427-428. Print.