Introduction

During the first two decades of the twentieth century, a broad coalition of activists began a series of reforms aimed at improving America 's economic and social system. Although the reformers never united in a single organization or agency, their collective efforts dominated the period, leading historians to label it the Progressive Era. Progressive reformers were particularly concerned with the growing concentration of wealth and power in America, and they hoped that their efforts might help preserve the nation's long-standing commitment to participatory democracy and economic opportunity. In analyzing the Progressive Era, historians have emphasized four of the age's principal themes, which include the search for: 1) greater democracy; 2) greater efficiency; 3) greater social justice; and 4) greater government activism. The activists who pursued these objectives sometimes found themselves fighting amongst one another in pursuit of contradictory goals, and historians of the period continue to debate the success of the movement.

Assignment

In an essay of 750-words or less, explore the themes, contradictions, and results of the Progressive Era reform movement. Be sure your essay includes the following:

* a discussion of the four themes of the period and examples of each;
* an analysis of any contradictions or ironies you find;
* a discussion of the results of the progressive era.

Due Date and Instructions

Your essay is due on Monday, October 13 by midnight. You should turn in your paper through turnitin.com. To do so, log in to Blackboard. On the left menu bar, click on the "Progressive Era" link. This will open a new page, where you will find a link for a turnitin assignment. Click the link and follow the directions. Please name your paper in this manner: lastname_firstname. So mine would read: littlejohn_jeff. Thanks.

Background and Context

Powerpoint: The Progressive Era [ online pdf ]

Progressive Era: Overview [ online ]

Elisabeth I. Perry, "The Changing Meanings of 'The Progressive Era'" [ online ]

Excerpt from Alan Brinkley, "The Concept of New Deal Liberalism," in The End of Reform (New York: Vintage Books, 1995) [ online pdf ] Note: pay attention to "reform liberalism"

Greater Democracy

1) Feminist in the Vanguard - American Century, pages 92-93 [ online pdf ]
Susan Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Florence Kelley, Emma Goldman

2) Herbert Croly, from Promise of American Life (1909) [ online ]

3) 16th Amendment (1913) [ online ]

4) 17th Amendment (1913) [ online ]

5) 19th Amendment (1920) [ online ]

Greater Efficiency

1) Henry Ford and Frederick W. Taylor -- American Century pages 112-113 [ online pdf ]

2) Frederick W. Taylor, Principles of Scientific Management (1911) [ online ]
Read the "Introduction" and "Fundamentals of Scientific Management"

3) Theodore Roosevelt and Conservation -- American Century pages 96-97 [ online pdf ]

Greater Social Justice

1) Muckrakers - American Century, page 94 [ online pdf ]
Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, Ray Stannard Baker, David Graham Phillips

2) Ida Tarbell and the History of Standard Oil [ online pdf ] [ guide ]

3) The Jungle - Upton Sinclair and FDA Reform [ online pdf ] [ online ]

Greater Government Activism

1) African American Leaders - Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois

Booker T. Washington and his " Atlanta Compromise Address" (1895)
Reading: [ biography ] [ image ] [ speech ] [ audio ] [ analysis1 ] [ analysis 2 ]

W.E.B. Du Bois and His Vision for the Negro Rights Movement
Reading : [ biography ] [ image ] [ Souls of Black Folk ] [ Harper's Ferry Address ]

2) Female Crusaders - American Century, pages 122-123 [ online pdf ] or other sources
Jane Addams, Alice Paul, Jeannette Rankin, Margaret Sanger

3) Temperence Reform: 18th Amendment [ online ]

4) Crusade against Child Labor
historical photographs [ online ]
Keating-Owen Child Labor Act (1916) [ online ]
Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918) [ online ]
Revenue Act of 1919, also called the Child Labor Tax Law
Bailey v. Drexel Furniture Co. (1922) [ online ]

Presidential Leaders

American National Biography: Theodore Roosevelt [ online ]

American National Biography: Woodrow Wilson [ online ]

Debate: Did the Progressives Fail?

Did the Progressives Fail? YES: Richard M. Abrams, from 'The Failure of Progressivism' in The Shaping of the Twentieth Century [ online ]

Did the Progressives Fail? NO: Arthur S. Link and Richard L. McCormick [ online ]