Summary: Social Origins Of The Progressive Reform

Sabeena Jagdeo
Social Origins of the Progressive Reform There are many interpretations to the progressive era in American history. Some say it was reforms made by the middle class, while others argue that it was conducted by the lower-class, and African American women. Overall, it was conducted by many groups, with a number of different intentions on how to change, and improve the American society. It was a time for progressives to take action in preserving the American values, while slightly changing them, so that they would remain intact. According to George Mowry in his writing Progressivem Middle Class Disillusionment the progressives were from the “solid middle class”(255). They came from other areas of society as well, like from wealthy families, but the majority were young people from the middle class. The majority came from this group according to Mowry because progressivism was about change, and the young people …show more content…
He brings in the idea that the lower-class or “working class” played a major role in the progressive era. He supports this claim by saying “lower-class workers… contributed much of the support for reform legislation, and without their endorsement some important liberal reforms would have failed” (7). He goes on to say that the middle class did play a role in the progressive movement, but without the lower-class, they would not have gotten any of their reforms anywhere. The lower-class Americans were from the American “melting pot”, unlike most middle class Americans who were white. They “provided an active, numerically strong, and politically necessary force for reform” (11). They brought new ideas, and perspectives to the American society, and were therefore better advocates for the progressive movement according to