Chapter 8: Progressive Reforms

Chapter 8 describes the issues that plagued the United States in the early 1900s and how responding to those issues reshaped government in the Progressive era.

Section 1 explores the conditions of life in the cities of the United States during the late 1800s. Near the turn of the century, masses of people—white, African American, rural, and immigrant—flocked to the cities. Because cities were not equipped to respond to their growing populations, problems arose such as overcrowding, poverty, crime, and filth. Corruption within city governments, organized by political machines, compounded problems. Even though a middle class society was developing, the economic division between wealthy business owners and poor laborers widened.

Section 2 looks at the people who became progressives and the ideals that motivated them to seek reforms. To counteract the unregulated excesses of the growth of businesses and cities, the Progressive movement took root and spread. While all progressives believed that the federal government could protect the public interest, they differed widely in their views and actions. Some progressives analyzed the causes of poor living conditions, crime, and corruption. Writers, known as muckrakers, wrote articles and novels to spread information about injustices. Other progressives worked as activists, winning reforms on specific issues.

Section 3 discusses how progressives sought reform at the local, state, and national levels of government. Progressives worked to disarm political machines and make government more responsive to its citizens. A Progressive Wisconsin governor led an effort to restore power to the states' citizens, and other states followed. On the national level, progressives pushed for government regulation of big business and for protection of workers. Women's rights expanded, but they still didn't win suffrage. African Americans, however, received little support from the Progressive reformers.