Essay On The Progressive Era

The Progressive Era was a much needed time of change and reform. Between 1880 and 1920, the Progressive Era reformed current practices and laws for ethical reasons and to appease certain unions creating noise and pressure about controversial issues.
During the late 19th early 20th century, there were many civil, political, and health hazardous issues occurring. Many freed slaves at the time were being discriminated against, making life in the south. African Americans, now being considered citizens due to the 14th amendment, felt that to be treated unfairly was an injustice and began to fight for segregation and discrimination to diminish. Women at the time were also subject to the same social discrimination. During this time period, women also began to question the reasons for society not permitting them the same rights and privileges as men. Political officers began to show signs for a need of reform as well. Elected officials began to listen to the businesses or corporations that would fund their campaign too much. Instead of office holders being elected to bring to the people what the people want, it began to bring the people what the CEO wanted and many citizens were not content with this. The final …show more content…
Wealthy business owners would use morally demeaning tactics such as working children and underpaying workers to make help cut their expenses and make their profit. An argument could also have been made that by making these reforms, the American economy would suffer and a panic could potentially occur. Robber Barons, bad industry capitalists, would have said something to this degree to try and convince law making bodies that there was no need for change. By keeping things and policies the way they were, industry capitalists would remain on top and in power with their