y the beginning of the twentieth century, muckraking journalists
were calling attention to the exploitation of child labor,
corruption in city governments, the horror of lynching,
and the ruthless business practices employed by businessmen
like John D. Rockefeller.
At the local level, many Progressives sought to suppress
red-light districts, expand high schools, construct playgrounds,
and replace corrupt urban political machines with more
efficient systems of municipal government. At the state
level, Progressives enacted minimum wage laws for women
workers, instituted industrial accident insurance, restricted
child labor, and improved factory regulation.
At the national level, Congress passed laws establishing
federal regulation of the meat-packing, drug, and railroad
industries, and strengthened anti-trust laws. It also
lowered the tariff, established federal control over the
banking system, and enacted legislation to improve working
conditions.
Four constitutional amendments were adopted during the
Progressive era, which authorized an income tax, provided
for the direct election of senators, extended the vote
to women, and prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic
beverages.
Background
Progressivism is an umbrella label for a wide range of
economic, political, social, and moral reforms. These
included efforts to outlaw the sale of alcohol; regulate
child labor and sweatshops; scientifically manage natural
resources; insure pure and wholesome water and milk; Americanize
immigrants or restrict immigration altogether; and bust
or regulate trusts. Drawing support from the urban, college-educated
middle class, Progressive reformers sought to eliminate
corruption in government, regulate business practices,
address health hazards, improve working conditions, and
give the public more direct control over government through
direct primaries to nominate candidates for public office,
direct election of Senators, the initiative, referendum,
and recall, and women's suffrage. |
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