The Progressive Era (1890 - 1920)

Progressivism is the term applied to a variety of responses to the economic and social
problems rapid industrialization introduced to America during the Industrial Revolution and the
Gilded Age. Progressivism began as a social movement and grew into a political movement. The
early progressives rejected Social Darwinism. In other words, they were people who believed
that the problems society faced (poverty, violence, greed, racism, class warfare) could best be
addressed by providing good education, a
safe environment, and an efficient
workplace.
Progressives lived mainly in the
cities, were college educated, and believed
that government could be a tool for change.
Social reformers, like Jane Addams, and
journalists, like Jacob Riis and Ida Tarbel,
were powerful voices for progressivism.
They concentrated on exposing the evils of
corporate greed, combating fear of
immigrants, and urging Americans to think
hard about what democracy meant. Other
local leaders encouraged Americans to register to vote, fight political corruption, and let the
voting public decide how issues should best be addressed (the initiative, the referendum, and the
recall). Additionally, womens rights movements soared during the Progressive Era.
On a national level, progressivism gained a strong voice in the White House when
Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1901. TR believed that strong corporations were good
for America, but he also believed that corporate behavior must be watched to ensure that
corporate greed did not get out of hand (trust-busting and federal regulation of business).
(Source: http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/teachinger/glossary/progressive-era.cfm)
Introduction to the Progressive Era Web Quest
Use your background knowledge of the Gilded Age and the internet to research the Progressive
Era and answer the following questions.
1. In 2-3 sentences, describe what happened during the Gilded Age that caused a need for
progress.

2. How did the new ideas of the Progressive Era conflict with ideas from the Gilded Age
(such as Social Darwinism)?
3. What were the four goals of the Progressive Era?

4. Why did Progressives want to protect children from child labor exploitation?

5. What was a muckraker and why were they important?

6. What was the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and how it did eventually help American
workers?

7. What was the temperance movement and how did it relate to womens issues at home?

8. What was the NAWSA and what was its goal?

9. What were separate spheres in gender roles change with the passage of the 19th
amendment?

10. In a small chart, compare and contrast W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washingtons
differing perspectives.

11. How did Theodore Roosevelt become President and what made him different than the
presidents before him?

12. What was Roosevelts Square Deal and why did he see it as so important?

13. How did Roosevelt deal with the Coal Strike of 1902 and what did the Federal
government do for the first time for average working people?

14. How did Teddy Roosevelt earn the nickname trust-buster?

15. How do you think Theodore Roosevelt would feel about the government and business
relations today?

16. What did each of the following laws do, and how does this show a change in government
toward the average consumer in America in the early 1900s?
- The Meat Inspection Act
- The Pure Food and Drug Act
17. What did Woodrow Wilson mean with his idea of New Freedom? Do you think it was a
good idea?

18. What did the 16th Amendment do, and do you agree with the idea of a graduated tax?

19. What is the FTC, and what does it do in the economy?

20. Brainstorm and write down 5 examples of government regulation that exist today and

affects you on a daily basis.