Progressivism was a political movement, which lasted from 1890 to 1917, that was started by the urban middle class and the farmers because of their disapproval and distrust towards big business and politicians.

Authors Avatar
Progressivism

Progressivism was a political movement, which lasted from 1890 to 1917, that was started by the urban middle class and the farmers because of their disapproval and distrust towards big business and politicians. The movement came about because at the time, big business was ruling American, and the vast majority of America, except the big executives and the corrupt politicians, were either living poorly, or on the edge of it. Small time wage workers were affected most by these corrupt institutions. They worked long hours in harsh conditions, with little pay, and even less benefits. However the middle class, not the lower class, formed the driving force behind the movement. As big business grew, the middle class saw their comfortable way of life coming to an end. Big business could make things twice as fast, for half the price, and they used their wealth to buy off government officials. The middle class saw big business becoming more and more invincible everyday, and they knew that they had to do something about it.

The progressive movement was inspired by muckrakers, and was kept alive by the peoples desire for change, and a few good Presidents. Muckrakers were nomadic reporters who went around the country writing about the injustices of business, society, and politics around the country. They helped to show the common workingman, that they were being hoodwinked out of the better life that they deserved. The muckrakers exposed the exploitation of children, the hazardous working conditions of most factories, the colossal commanding power of the railroad giants, and the corruption of politicians. These realizations, along with the inspirational words of the muckrakers made people realize that their lives should not be run by big business, and don't have to be. The main progressive President was Theodore Roosevelt. Later Woodrow Wilson attempted to continue with Progressivism, but World War I got in the way. The Sherman Antitrust act was the fist piece of law inspired by progressivism. In 1890 the law was created to prevent corporations from consolidating to form monopolies on their industries, but it was very ineffective for a long time.

However, after the muckrakers began their crusade and got the country all riled up, Theodore Roosevelt became inspired, and took his role in the progressive movement. Roosevelt became president in 1901 when William McKinley was assassinated, only six months into his second term. Roosevelt initially continued on McKinley's conservative platform, until midway through 1902 when he decided to take a sharp turn in his administration, and he began a progressive movement within the national government. He thought that in America, a country founded upon the basis of equality among people, that everyone should have that equality, in all aspects of life. Roosevelt once wrote, "I am the president of all the people of the United States, without regard to creed, color, birthplace, occupation, or social condition. My aim is to do equal and exact justice among them all."
Join now!


Roosevelt started his progressive campaign by attacking large companies, ones he believed to be monopolies. He did so by filing anti-trust suits against these companies, and his first target was J.P. Morgan Northern Securities. Northern Securities was an alliance between several northwestern railroads designed to stop panicked competition, and it suffered from heavy criticism from the time of its' inception. Many shippers feared it as a monopoly. He succeeded in breaking apart the company and went on to break up many other monopolies. After his attack on J.P. Morgan, he organized a national coal workers strike. Fifty thousand ...

This is a preview of the whole essay