Essay On Progressive Movement

American life during the 1800s and early 1900s had an abundance of social, political, and economic issues. Progressive and populist reformers worked to improve such complications, which can be seen during the Progressive Movement. The Progressive Movement’s success can be recognized through issues such as meat packing, women’s rights, and workers safety. Meat packing was a major issue during this time period. The factories where the meat was processed was extremely unsanitary and had unfit working conditions. Meat was thrown into piles where rats could feast as they please. Disease was prevalent and tuberculosis was not uncommon. The Neill-Reynolds report described the workers to, “climb over these heaps of meat, select the pieces they wish, and frequently throw them down upon the dirty floor beside their working bench,” (Neill-Reynolds 4). The report to the president ultimately resulted in the Food and Drug Administration. Progressives wanted the Public Health Reform of Food Safety, and the Neill-Reynolds report was a gateway to it’s fame. President Theodore Roosevelt took action upon the report by creating the Meat Inspection Act. These reforms were successful during the Progressive era because they changed the conditions of meat processing and American society is …show more content…
Women made up half of the human race; yet they do not have rights like men do. Senator Robert Owen said in his speech in 1910, “over seven million women are so employed and the remainder of the sex are employed largely in domestic services,” (Senator Robert Owen). Women contribute to one half of the work done in the world. The women’s suffrage movement, formed in 1848, fought for women’s right and consequently, the 19th amendment was formed in 1920, giving women the right to vote. This was a successful reform during the Progressive era because change was seen in women’s rights that still affects present life in