Progressive Movement Essay

The period from 1890 to 1917 in the accounting of United States is known as Progressive era. This period is marked by an all-encompassing and intensive change in all spheres of American carriage viz. semipolitical, economic and social. According to Nevin and Commager, this period was marked by rebuff and reform in intimately every department of American life. onetime(a) political leaders were ousted and new one enlisted political machinery was overhauled and modernized political practices were subject to critical scrutiny and those which failed to square with the ideals of country were rejected. (p. 382)These leaders from midpoint class pleaded for authorities regulation of big businesses to prevent exploitations pf the weaker sections. Stressing on the demand for reforms, Theodore Roosevelt said, No hard-and-fast rule can be laid round off as to the way in which such work reform must be done save most certainly every man, whatever his position, should hand to do it in s ome way and to some degree. (Roosevelt) Most of the problems that Progressives precious to tackle was an outcome of the industrial expansion and the political-industrial coalitions of the Gilded Age. During the Progressive almost every department of American life was overhauled and modernized. Thus Progressivism was a exercise with predominantly middle class objectives and viewpoint, deriving much of its support from littler businessmen, farmers and professional people. ( Parkes, p.544)At the federal level, the Progressive movement set in with the inauguration of the President Roosevelt curtailed the powers of the large organizations was epitomized through the suite against The Northern Securities gild in 1903. He introduced other legislative measures to breakdown the monopoly of the large corporations. Trust-Busting was the first-class honours degree radical step taken by Roosevelt that was aimed at the breaking of monopolies in any form and its abuses. Second major proponent o f Progressivism at the guinea pig level was President William Howard Taft (1909-1913) who accomplished more progressive legislation than the Roosevelt. He introduced and enacted law to check corrupt practices during the elections.He dissolved ninety trusts beneath the Sherman Anti-Trust Act (these trusts were saving huge taxes in the name of charity and were mingled in certain illegal activities). He strengthened the cause of democracy when he propagated the idea of direct elections for the senators and introduced 17th am residuumments in the U.S. constitution. Woodrow is the next in the row for progressive presidents.He introduced far-reaching economic reforms and adopted a bod other progressive measure to capacitate the entire American emotional call forth with purpose. Hs foremost priority was the revision of tariff and introduction of viable reforms. Secondly, he introduced another Act to reconstruct the monetary and banking sector. Although his program of more progressi ve reforms were cut short but the outbreak or WW II but two more constitutional amendment (eighteenth and 19th) became effective in his presidency.1Progressives could not kick in about the revolutionary transformation of the political and economic system. The evident chagrin of the Progressive movement was its disinclination to deal with racial discrimination. Although it had a national agenda but it was meant for Whites only. The Afro-American suffered from the victimization at the social and state level through disfranchisement, Jim Crow laws, and poverty. Additionally, it failed to address the questions of class conflict and terminate in despair for small owners and businessmen.Yet it cannot be denied that through their reforms they assay to revitalize democracy and made the rulers responsible and accountable to the public. Perhaps the outmatch known results of this era are the 18th and 19th Amendments, Prohibition and charwoman suffrage respectively. But this legislation r eally came at the tail end of the period that has come to be known as the Age of Reform. The amendments were actually the byproducts of an immense social and political upheaval which changed forever the expectations of the role government would play in American society. (PBS)ReferencesNevins, Allan& Commager, Henry S. 1966. A short tale of the United States. mod York A. Knopf.Parkes, Henry B. 1959. The United States of AmericaA History. New York Knopf.PBS. The Progressive Era 1900-1918. On-line. Available from Internet,http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eleanor/peopleevents/pande08.html, accessed 23 March2008.1 18th Amendment of U.S. Constitution the process of introduction of Prohibition was completed whereas 19th Amendments tending(p) the right of vote to the women on equal terms with men.