* The Progressive Era was a period of social activism and political reform in the United States that began in the late 19th century and lasted until the early 20th century.
* Progressive reformers were a diverse group of people who shared a belief that society could be improved through government action.
- They were motivated by a variety of factors, including:
- The growth of big business and the perceived need to regulate it
- The plight of the urban poor
- The corruption of government
- The desire to expand democracy
* Progressive reforms ranged from the establishment of child labor laws and women's suffrage to the creation of the Federal Reserve System and the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act.
* The Progressive Era saw the rise of new political movements, such as the Populist Party and the Socialist Party, as well as the emergence of new reform organizations, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
* The Progressive Era ended with the outbreak of World War I, but its legacy can still be seen in the many reforms that were enacted during that time.
Key Progressive Reforms
* Child labor laws: Progressive reformers believed that children should not be working in factories and other hazardous environments. They lobbied for laws that set a minimum age for employment and limited the number of hours that children could work.
* Women's suffrage: Progressive reformers believed that women should have the same rights as men, including the right to vote. They campaigned for women's suffrage, and by 1920, women had won the right to vote in all 50 states.
* Regulation of big business: Progressive reformers believed that big business had too much power and that it needed to be regulated by the government. They supported laws that regulated monopolies, prevented price fixing, and protected consumers from unsafe products.
* Food and drug safety: Progressive reformers were concerned about the safety of the food and drug supply. They lobbied for laws that required food and drugs to be inspected and labeled accurately.
The Progressive Era was a time of great social and political change in the United States. The reforms that were enacted during this time had a lasting impact on the country, and they continue to shape American society today.