The Rise of Progressivism

Progressivism is exactly what it sounds like; the movement towards progress. Progressivism was a time in which people rose and protested against the government and society. They wanted change that was fair and just. This meant that many changes would have to be made in order to accomplish this. The government was corrupt and progressives wanted to change that. With the urbanization and industrialization both occurring at the same time, society was also crumbling on itself. The progressives began a movement that changed the rest of history in the United States forever.

Early progressives were known as muckrakers. These were people who were considered journalists or reporters who uncovered the dirty truths that all the big businesses and bosses were hiding. Among the major issues that muckrakers uncovered were, child labor and the meat packing industry. These two prominent issues lead to the endorsing of laws that prohibited or restricted certain issues that were considered harmful or unjustified. Progressives also wished to change the government. They believed that the government should run itself more efficiently and should really give an interest as to what businesses do and how they carry themselves. This lead to elections being anonymous and fair; limited power over corporations; and people were allowed to question leaders with no worry of being sanctioned for it.