The Progressive Era was a period of American history that spanned from the 1890s to the 1920s (roughly, the ascendancy of Theodore Roosevelt to America's involvement in World War I), characterized by social, political, and economic reforms aimed at addressing the problems of the rapidly industrializing and urbanizing United States. It was marked by a growing sense of social consciousness and a desire for greater democracy, fairness, and accountability.
With the rise of industrialization, many workers were subjected to dangerous working conditions, long hours, and low pay. The Progressive Era saw the emergence of labor unions and a growing awareness of workers' rights, leading to reforms like the 8-hour workday and minimum wage laws.
"Muckrakers",a term coined by Theodore Roosevelt, were involved in investigative journalism that exposed the corruption, abuse, and injustices of big business and government. Muckrakers were seen as crusading heroes, shining a light on the dark corners of American society and inspiring a wave of reform.
In the early 20th century, a handful of powerful corporations dominated entire industries, leading to concerns about monopolies and unfair business practices. The Progressive Era saw the rise of antitrust laws and the breakup of many of these trusts, aimed at promoting competition and protecting consumers. With the rise of industrialization, many workers were subjected to dangerous working conditions, long hours, and low pay. The Progressive Era saw the emergence of labor unions and a growing awareness of workers' rights, leading to reforms like the 8-hour workday and minimum wage laws.
The Progressive Era was also marked by a moralistic streak, with many reformers seeking to combat the perceived evils of alcohol. This led to the passage of the 18th Amendment in 1919, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol in the United States.
The United States during this time was not just involved in fixing its domestic problems, but were involved more globally. American imperialism in the Progressive Era refers to the United States' efforts to expand its influence and territorial control beyond its borders, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This expansion was driven by a desire for economic and strategic gain, as well as a belief in American exceptionalism and the supposed duty to spread American values and civilization. During this time, the U.S. government and businesses sought to establish colonies, protectorates, and spheres of influence in regions such as the Caribbean, Central America, and the Pacific. This often involved military interventions, such as the Spanish-American War in 1898, which resulted in the acquisition of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Many proponents of American imperialism saw it as a way to spread democracy and modernization to less developed nations, while others were motivated by economic interests such as securing new markets for American goods and resources. However, critics argued that such expansion was a form of imperialism that violated the sovereignty of other nations and imposed American values on them without their consent.
The fight for women's right to vote was a major theme of the Progressive Era. Suffragettes, led by figures like Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt, worked tirelessly to secure the franchise for women, culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. The suffragette movement in the Progressive Era was characterized by a range of protest tactics, from peaceful marches and rallies to more confrontational and militant actions. One of the most notable tactics used by suffragettes was the hunger strike. In prison, suffragettes would go on hunger strikes to protest their treatment and demand better conditions. This often led to force-feeding, which was a painful and traumatic experience for the suffragettes. Another tactic was the use of civil disobedience, such as refusing to pay taxes or disrupting public events. This included picketing the White House, which began in 1917, where suffragettes held signs and banners demanding the right to vote. This was controversial at the time and led to the arrests of many suffragettes. Suffragettes also engaged in more militant tactics, such as smashing windows, setting fires, and even bombing government buildings. These actions were carried out by a small faction of suffragettes and were not endorsed by the broader movement. In addition to these tactics, suffragettes also used traditional methods of activism, such as public speaking, writing, and lobbying. They organized rallies, parades, and public meetings, and used newspapers and other publications to spread their message.
Unfortunately, life was not all "Progressive" for all groups. It was also a time of pervasive racism and discrimination against African Americans and other minorities. During this time, Jim Crow laws were enforced in the South, which mandated racial segregation in public spaces and restricted voting rights for Black Americans. Lynchings and other forms of violence against Black Americans were also widespread, and discriminatory practices such as redlining and racial covenants were used to prevent Black Americans from buying homes or accessing certain neighborhoods. Even prominent figures associated with the Progressive Era, such as President Woodrow Wilson, were openly racist. Wilson segregated the federal government and screened The Birth of a Nation (1915), a film that glorified the Ku Klux Klan and portrayed Black men as violent and sexually aggressive, at the White House. The Progressive Era was also marked by the rise of eugenics, a pseudo-scientific movement that sought to promote "racial purity" and discourage interracial marriage and reproduction. Eugenicists believed that certain groups, particularly immigrants and people of color, were inferior and posed a threat to the genetic makeup of the United States. Despite these challenges, there were also individuals and organizations working to combat racism and promote racial justice during the Progressive Era. Figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, and Booker T. Washington advocated for equal rights and opportunities for Black Americans, and organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) worked to challenge discriminatory laws and practices through the courts which would pave for the Civil Rights Movement in The '60s.
This era is also the last period of The Wild West. One major factor in the end of the Wild West was the settlement of the frontier. By the early 20th century, most of the land in the West had been claimed and developed, and the population had shifted from primarily rural to urban areas. This led to the decline of the cattle drives and the cowboy culture that had once defined the region. The end of the Wild West was also marked by the increased role of the federal government in regulating and managing the West. The creation of national parks and the establishment of the U.S. Forest Service helped to preserve the natural beauty of the region and industrialization and the expansion of railroads, which brought new technologies and industries to the West and helped to connect it more closely to the rest of the country. This led to the growth of new cities and towns, and the decline of the traditional rural way of life. Not even the Native Americans could escape from this change, due to the forced relocation of Native Americans to reservations and the suppression of their traditional way of life.
This era ended with the United States's involvement in World War I, the sinking of the Lusitania, and the leak of the Zimmerman Telegram. The Telegram was a secret diplomatic communication sent by Germany to Mexico during World War I, proposing a military alliance and promising support for Mexico to reclaim lost territory from the United States.
See also The Edwardian Era, The Silent Age of Hollywood, the Meiji Restoration, Imperial Germany, The Mexican Revolution, The Raj, Romanovs and Revolutions, and No More Emperors for more specific information on the period in different places. The Gilded Age and The Roaring '20s are the decades before and after the Progressive Era.
Compare & Contrast Antebellum America (Another period in American History seeing protests for social reform, huge industrialization & immigration, and the era ended with a major war)
Works set in this era include:
- Most of the works set in The Edwardian Era in the United States take place during this time.
- The first episode of "This Century: America's Time" is about this time, with interviews with people that were alive during this period.
- Iron Jawed Angels
- Titanic, or works about The Titanic in general
- Crash Course U.S. History made two videos about this period, one about the era itself
and the other about the presidents from that era
