What caused the
Progressive Movement?
What caused the Progressive Movement?
The Progressives believed that the government should take a
more active role in solving the problems of society, restoring order
and protecting the welfare of Americans by conservation and
environmental reforms. The causes of Progressive Movement were extremely wide ranging and
included in the following list.
We recommend that reference is made to following
articles that provide facts, information about:
Causes of the Progressive
Movement
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
Bribery and Corruption in politics
that had been encouraged by the
Spoils System
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
The Political Machines that
controlled the towns and cities
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
The Negative impact of
Industrialization that led to the emergence of poor
working conditions in the factories
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
The rapid Urbanization in America and lack of planning
that led to appalling housing and squalid living
conditions in the towns and the cities
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
The economic system of Free enterprise and
the concept of 'Laissez-Faire'
by which private businesses operated in competition and
largely free of state control.
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
The Rise of Big Business and Corporations and the greed
and unchecked and unethical practices of the
Robber Barons
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
The crusade against Alcohol, its
effects on society and the call for prohibition
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
Discrimination and inequality on the
grounds of race, religion and ethnic background
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
Discrimination against women - refer
to
Women's
suffrage
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
The rise of crime in the cities during the Urbanization in
America
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
The call for banking reform to help small businesses and
the farmers
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
The call for labor reform relating to
wages, working conditions and unionization
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
Protests against the use of
Child Labor and the need for
improved education
Causes of the Progressive Movement:
The Conservation
Movement and the
Environmentalists fought to protect and end the waste of
natural resources, the destruction of wildlife and
against pollution
Causes of the Progressive
Movement
Progressive Movement
Goals
The Goals of the Progressive Movement
were to:
●
To curb power of the
Trusts, Big Business and Corporations and regulate business
● To eliminate the bribery
and corruption of the political machines
● To bring about political
reform
● To address the issues of
social injustice and inequality and bring about reform
● To raise awareness of
social injustices such as child labor, and the effects of
illiteracy, alcohol abuse and crime
● To improve the lifestyles,
living and working conditions of Americans
● To establish Health and
Safety codes
● To conserve and protect
natural resources
Progressive Movement
for kids:
Who were the Progressives?
The Progressive Movement was led by
male and female Progressives from all walks of society including:
●
Members of the Republican
and Democrat political parties
● Well educated middle-class
Americans
● Poorer Americans, often
union activists
● Crusading Journalists,
photographers and authors, also known as Muckrakers
● Teachers and Educators
● Members of the clergy
Progressive Movement
for kids:
Names of the Leaders of the Progressive Movement
The list of names of famous
Progressive Leaders, who consisted of reform activists, politicians and
'muckrakers', included Jacob Riis, John Dewey, Lester Frank Ward,
Frank Norris, Ida Tarbell, Thomas Nast, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Robert La Follette, Henry Demarest Lloyd, David Graham Philips, Upton
Sinclair, Charles Edward Russell, Alice Paul, John Spargo, Eugene
Debs, Lincoln Steffens, Ray Stannard Baker, Jane Addams, Booker T.
Washinton, W.E.B. DuBois, Theodore
Dreiser, Walter Rauschenbusch and Ida B.Wells. Many of these men and
women were labeled as Muckrakers.
Theodore Roosevelt was the most influential of all the leaders of
the progressive movement and his presidency and focused on
efficiency and fairness.
Robert
La Follette and the Progressive Movement
One of the famous leaders of the
Progressive Movement was Robert La Follette (1855 – 1925) aka
"Fighting Bob" who started his political career as an American
Republican and later became a Progressive politician who initiated
the Wisconsin Experiment. Robert La Follette became a rallying point of many of the progressives in the
diverse sectors of the Reformist Movement. Robert La Follette,
"Fighting Bob", fought against corporate monopoly in America and
imperialism abroad. As a Socialist he believed that major
industries, run by Big Business and corporations, should be owned
and controlled by the government rather than by individual people
and companies. The ideals of Socialism are based on a democratic,
non-racist, classless and feminist socialist society in which
working people had control over their lives and Robert La Follette,
"Fighting Bob", fought for all these issues. His radical, left
wing political views, attracted women, organized labor movements,
minority groups including many African Americans and farmers. His
militant, Progressive platform earned him the nickname of "Fighting
Bob" and the admiration of the working classes and the fear of the
establishment. He called for the government takeover of the
railroads and the coal industry and fought for the rights of workers
and unions and the abolishment of child labor. Robert La Follette
ran for President on the Socialist platform in 1924 and gained 5
million votes.
Progressive Movement
Accomplishments
The accomplishments of the Progressive
Movement were as follows:
Accomplishments of the Progressive
Movement
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
The 1887 Interstate Commerce
Commission (ICC) was an early example of Progressive
Reforms and other helpful laws followed (refer to the
timeline below)
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
Laws were passed to protect the
public’s health and welfare
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
Anti-trust legislation was passed to
prohibit monopolies
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
Big Business and corporations were
regulated as the process of arbitration was included in
the negotiation process
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
The Unionization of all the important
industries
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
The commission system of local
government, replacing the mayor, city council and
political machine was introduced
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
The crusading 'muckrakers' raised
awareness of social issues which led to the formation of
pressure groups and reform
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
The federal government started to act
as mediators between opposing sides
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
The number of hours that children
were allowed work were limited, and education improved
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
Laws were passed to protect the
environment and address pollution
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
The 17th amendment to the
Constitution was ratified to counter Senate corruption
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
The 18th Amendment was passed
prohibiting the sale and manufacture of alcohol
Progressive Movement Accomplishments:
The 19th Amendment was passed that
gave women the right to vote - refer to
Women's
suffrage
Accomplishments of the Progressive
Movement
For additional facts refer to the articles detailing the
Progressive Era
Timeline and the
Progressive Reforms that
were introduced at
city, state and federal levels.
Progressive Movement
for kids:
The Limits of Progressivism
The progressive movement addressed
social problems, passed laws, amendments and reforms to protect
workers and regulate the economy and big business but there were
limits of Progressivism. The most conspicuous limit to
progressivism was its failure to address African-American reform
and racial issues. African-American progressives therefore took
action themselves and the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was formed in 1909.
Progressive Movement
for kids:
The End to Progressivism
The nation's problems regarding the
economy, racism, immigration and labor unrest following WW1
heralded the end of the progressive movement and the Progressive
Era. Warren Harding, the Republican candidate called for a
return to 'normalcy' and the simpler way of life before all of
the Progressive reforms. Americans agreed with his sentiments
and Warren Harding won a landslide victory in the presidential
election.
Progressive Movement for kids - President Theodore Roosevelt Video
The article on the Progressive Movement provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 26th American President whose presidency spanned from September 14, 1901 to March 4, 1909.
Progressive Movement
●
Facts about the Progressive Movement for kids and schools
●
Summary of the Progressive Movement in US history
●
The Progressive Movement, a major
event in US history
●
Theodore Roosevelt from September 14, 1901 to March 4, 1909
●
Fast, fun facts about the Progressive Movement
●
Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Theodore Roosevelt
● Theodore Roosevelt Presidency and
Progressive Movement for schools,
homework, kids and children |