Topic Legacy of the Progressive Era Academic level Undergrad. (yrs 3-4) Discipline History

1. The Progressive Era
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The progressive Era
The progressive era was characterized by political reforms and social activism across the
United States. The progressive era lasted between 1890s and 1920, and the main activities during
this period focused on eliminating corruption and other evils that were exiting in the US
government. The movements that formed during the period targeted bosses that were in the
government and the political machines that propelled the will of few individuals. The main idea of
the movement was that taking down the corrupt people in offices could lead to democracy
establishment. The era was characterized by efforts that targeted regulation of monopolies, and
businesses were owned by few people who supported manipulation. This was done through
antitrust laws. These laws promoted equal competition, which benefited legitimate competitors.
The main events during the progressive era include Business regulation, conservationism, greater
democracy, prohibition, and the rise of professionalism.
The progressive era was characterized by increased business regulation by the government,
especially on monopoly businesses. The aim of regulating business was to provide fairer and better
conditions for workers in America. Business regulation also focused on creating better conditions
for consumers. In Monopolies, business people exploit workers and consumers to maximize profits
at the expense of other people’s welfare (Hutchison, 2017). The progressive era brought to an end
the use of hands-off or Laissez-faire, which was an approach that abused corporate power.
Unregulated business led to a struggle between farmers and then railroad barons. The Railroad
barons were corrupt, and they promoted bribery, intimidating wheat farmers, and vote tampering.
The big businesses eliminated competition in business through price wars, which drove out small
businesses (Tone, 2018). The establishment of trusts and monopolies forced all consumers to
accept high prices because they had no substitute products to buy. Workers were paid low wages

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as a way of exploiting them, and the working conditions were unsafe and harsh. The employers
always sought to prevent labor unions formation because they knew unions would advocate for
changes in the way workers were being treated. President Theodore Roosevelt was against some
trusts that were not serving the public good. Antitrust lawsuits were filed against big businesses
during this era, and the outcomes were a big win to the people. For instance, Northern Securities
Company faced an antitrust lawsuit, and the court ruled against this company as the court
determined that the company had violated Sherman Antitrust Act (1890). Business regulation
identified specific business combinations and illegal practices that were violated the law. Clayton
Antitrust Act (1914) was formed to strengthen the Sherman Antitrust Act (1890).
Conservatism is a political ideology that emphasizes the traditionally or historically
inherited practices rather than the ideal and abstract things. The ideology supports the belief that
society is not a loose collection of people or individuals but a group of people made up of
connected and interdependent members. This ideology favored institutions and all practices that
evolved gradually. During the enlightenment age in the 18th century, social reforms changed
various areas of life, including education, economics, technology, medicine, and science (Rimby,
2021). The effort was focused on modernizing the society, and conservationists were against
modernization. The progressive era intervened to save the future of the American people by
protecting natural resources against exploitation by organizations and few individuals who have
dominated the country. Natural resources were being exploited by a few individuals, such as land
developers and land speculators. Mining firms practiced wasteful improper mining practices. Such
firms assumed an inexhaustible supply of natural resources, but this was threatening the future
lives of the people (Rothbard, 2017). Conservationists acted by asking the government to regulate
and supervise the nation’s natural resources to preserve them for future generations. The aim of

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government involvement in regulating and supervising the use of natural resources was to reclaim
large areas of neglected land and end wasting natural resources. President Roosevelt was a pioneer
of conservationism as he had the power to protect natural resources. Roosevelt, in his
administration, managed to follow the Newland Act of 1902.
The progressive era introduced a number of professions. Some of the professions that were
introduced in this era include medicine, social work, and special education. It was made necessary
to create criteria and standards for the qualification of members in various professions. The
standards and criteria of qualification aimed to decide who was to be excluded and who could be
a member of the profession. The progressive era created room for specialization as working
conditions started to change and industrialization took roots in the United States. Advance in
specialization and knowledge led to modern-day professions. Licensing regulations are followed
to strengthen professional areas and allow people to engage in a meaningful search for knowledge
in areas of specialization (Larson, 2017). Professionalism improved markets as advances in
knowledge and specialization made it difficult for consumers to judge professional services. The
advances in knowledge and specialization led to increased societal safety, improved health and
welfare.
Prohibition rose during the progressive era. The Eightieth constitutional amendment
prohibited the reinsert, sales, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages. The progressive era focused
on transforming the US into an inhabitable society where social evils could not be tolerated.
Prohibition was supported by the temperance movement that started in the 1830s. This movement
grew stronger during the progressive era when social problems, including drunkenness and
poverty, gained public attention. The movement that prohibited alcohol manufacturing, sales, and
transportation aimed at eradicating poverty, and they argued that alcohol adds poverty to society.

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Pioneers such as Frances Willard argued that men used money that they could use for family bread
for drinks. As a progressive reform, prohibition was most successful in western states and rural
southern states. The reform was not much successful in urban states. Prohibition was much
concerned with the moral fabric of the community.
The achievement of greater democracy characterized the progressive era. Many reform
movements rose in the fight against intimidation, corruption, and greed of few individuals in
power. Farmers formed movements to fight for their rights against freight rates, women formed
movements to fight for their voting rights, and all these efforts focused on achieving greater
democracy. Progressive reformers succeeded in fighting impunity in city governments. Reformers
exposed corrupt officials publicly, and they voted them out of office. The corrupt leaders were
replaced by reform leaders who carried the vision for the country. Progressive reformers achieved
greater democracy when their proposed leaders started taking over state government leadership.
The greatest victory came when Robert M. La Follette was elected as the Wisconsin governor in
1900.

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References
Hutchison, C. (2017). Progressive Era Conceptions of the Corporation and the Failure of the
Federal Chartering Movement. Colum. Bus. L. Rev., 1017.
Larson, M. S. (2017). The rise of professionalism: Monopolies of competence and sheltered
markets. Routledge.
Rimby, S. (2021). Introduction: Dock, Progressive Era Conservation, and Why It Matters. In Mira
Lloyd Dock and the Progressive Era Conservation Movement (pp. 1-10). Penn State
University Press.
Rimby, S. (2021). Mira Lloyd Dock and the Progressive Era Conservation Movement. Penn State
University Press.
Rothbard, M. N. (2017). The progressive era. Ludwig von Mises Institute.
Tatiana, R. (2017). Development of the US Green Movement: Reliance on Civil Society.
Tone, A. (2018). The business of benevolence: Industrial paternalism in progressive America.
Cornell University Press.