The Progressive Era | Roots of Reform | 1

The Gilded Age saw the United States transform into a major industrial power accompanied by immense wealth and deep social issues.

19th Century Industrialization Led To Wealth, Inequality, Corruption, and Worker Exploitation

Gilded Age: Rise of "Robber Barons" Who Amassed Fortunes Through Ruthless Tactics and Worker Exploitation

By the end of the 19th century, America had shifted from an agriculture-based economy to an industrial one, resulting in significant economic growth and making the United States one of the world's premier industrial powers. However, the prosperity of the era obscured the reality of a society grappling with widespread corruption, poverty, and rampant injustice.

Mark Twain derisively called this era the Gilded Age, alluding to how its apparent wealth and overindulgence masked underlying societal issues, such as corruption and inequality. Workers endured grim working conditions with meager pay, while powerful businessmen in industries like steel, oil, and banking, known as robber barons, accrued enormous wealth. These robber barons employed callous tactics to stamp out competition, and the political landscape was tainted by scandal and dishonesty.

Economic Change Leads To Worker Unrest: Pullman Strike Paralyzes Midwest Rail Traffic

The Gilded Age's economic changes led to significant worker unrest, exemplified by the Pullman Strike, which demonstrated the depth of labor dissatisfaction.

During an economic downturn, the Pullman Palace Car Company, a manufacturer of luxury railway cars, slashed employ ...

Reformers, journalists, and activists have historically played crucial roles in exposing and addressing societal injustices. This article discusses how individuals like Jacob Riis, Ida B. Wells, and Jane Addams risked their reputations and personal safety to shine a light on urban poverty, racial injustice, and corporate abuses.

Journalists Riis and Wells Highlighted Urban Poverty, Racial Injustice, and Corporate Abuses

Riis's Book Exposed NYC Immigrant Slums' Squalid Conditions

Jacob Riis, a journalist and immigrant, made significant contributions to social reform by exposing the dire conditions in New York City's slums. In 1890, he published "How the Other Half Lives," a groundbreaking book that employed striking photographs and vivid descriptions to outline the harsh realities of life in immigrant tenements. His work not only raised public awareness but also caught the attention of Theodore Roosevelt, then the NYC Police Commissioner. Roosevelt accompanied Riis on nighttime walks through Manhattan's Lower East Side, witnessing the problems firsthand.

Wells Debunked the Myth of Lynching as Punishment for Rape, Revealing It as Racial Terror

Ida B. Wells, a pioneering African American journalist, courageously tackled the brutal practice of lynching in the South. Through her relentless investigation and reporting, Wells debunked the prevalent myth that lynching was a justified punishment for the alleged raping of white women by Black men. Instead, she revealed the truth behind these heinous acts as a form of racial terror designed to maintain white supremacy.

Settlement Leaders Tackled Urban Issues, Risking Donor Support

Addams Faced Backlash for Mediating the Pullman Strike From the Business Elite, Who Accused Her of Siding With "Labor Radicals."

Jane Addams, a prominent leader in the Settlement House movement, found herself in the midst of conflict when she chose to mediate during the Pu ...

The political landscape of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was marked by a clash between big business interests and a growing populist reform movement. The era saw significant mobilization by farmers, laborers, and activists campaigning for government intervention against corporate abuses, while reformers like La Follette pushed for direct democracy reforms.

1890s Populist Movement: Mobilizing Farmers, Laborers, and Activists to Challenge Big Business and Advocate For Government Intervention

The Populist movement, borne in the Midwest and South, bridged gaps between farmers, laborers, and middle-class activists against the domineering power of corporations. They sought government action against Wall Street and corporate abuses.

Populists Rallied Behind 1896 Democratic Candidate Bryan, Who Electrified Audiences With His "Cross of Gold" Speech Advocating Free Silver Coinage

In the pivotal 1896 election, the Populists threw their support behind Democrat William Jennings Bryan, who championed the free coinage of silver in his "Cross of Gold" speech, appealing to the indebted farmers and advocating monetary policy reforms.

Bryan's Populist Campaign Was Defeated by Mckinley, Backed by Wealthy Industrialists and Kingmaker Mark Hanna

Despite the enthusiasm he generated, Bryan ultimately lost to William McKinley. McKinley garnered significant support from wealthy industrialists, notably Mark Hanna, who orchestrated a well-financed campaign. On the decisive election night, the celebration of McKinley's victory resounded in the circles of businessmen and bankers, with a critical margin of nearly 100 electoral votes.

The defeat of Bryan resulted in a diminished influence of the Populist movement, although their reform ideas endured in American politics.

Reformers Like La Follette Transferred Power To Voters

Governor Robert La Follette emerged as a key figure in the continuum of the populist movement, channeling the spirit of reform into tangible political changes in the electoral process and policy crafting.

La Follette, a staunch advocate of direct democracy, confronted an assembly ...

Theodore Roosevelt's tenure as a transformational leader and reformist is marked by his early career as New York City's Police Commissioner, his subsequent rise to the vice presidency, and his presidency, which focused on taking active government measures to address the nation's social ills.

As NYC Police Commissioner, Roosevelt Reformed Harsh Treatment of Urban Poor With Journalist Jacob Riis, Closing Unsanitary Police Lodging Houses

Theodore Roosevelt's early political career was characterized by his dedication to reform, especially regarding the treatment of the urban poor. In New York City, as the newly appointed police commissioner in the spring of 1895, Roosevelt joined forces with journalist Jacob Riis, author of "How the Other Half Lives," to address the dire living conditions of the city's tenement residents.

Roosevelt's Experiences With Riis Convinced Him Of the Need For Government Action to Address Social Ills

Riis introduced Roosevelt to the struggles of the poor firsthand by taking him on nighttime tours of the Lower East Side. This solidified Roosevelt's stance on the necessity of government intervention. As police commissioner, he acted promptly by closing the unsanitary and inadequate police lodging houses, laying the groundwork for his progressive philosophy of an active government serving all citizens, particularly the vulnerable.

Roosevelt's Rise to Presidency Post-Mckinley Enabled Executive Challenges To Big Business

After his heroics in the Spanish-American War and serving as governor of New York, Roosevelt became Vice President under McKinley. Following McKinley's assassination in September 1901, Roosevelt assumed the presidency and began his pronounced campaign against corporate monopolies.

Roosevelt Targeted Trusts Like Northern Securities, Showing His Readiness to Challenge Corporate Interests

With the belief in distinguishing "good trusts" from "bad trusts," President Roosevelt did not shy away from challenging major monopolies like the Northern Securities ra ...