The Progressive Era

The Progressive Era through the Great Depression

Sandra Greene

HIS 105

Professor Donna Reeves

9 Nov, 2012

The Progressive Era through the Great Depression

The Progressive Era was a time of political and social reform. The people were disgusted with the climate brought about by the Industrial Age. They learned of the corruption of government and business, as well as the appalling life of the working class by reading the works of writers and journalist called “muckrakers”. It was felt that the government should be involved with ending the troubles of the people. This included cleaning the cities, addressing poverty, better working conditions, better pay, governing big business, and regulating industry. This paper will address historical turning points starting with the Progressive Era through The Great Depression. It will analyze how some events and legislature shaped the US into what it is today. Finally it will touch on the Spanish War and the National economy.

One major turning point of the time period was the women’s right movement which eventually led to the 19th Amendment which granted women the right to vote. During this time period many women were educated. However, there was a limit to the fields available for them to work in. A great many of them worked in traditional female fields, such as nursing, teaching and clerical. The reform organizations of the time were a means for these women to not only perform public service but to also have a job. The monumental and ceaseless efforts of NAWSA and NWP eventually lead to victory to all women with the passing of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Women finally had a voice in government. Women would continue and succeed in many fights for reform in business, labor, racism, and the social arena (Schultz, 2012, p. 342; Cole, 1990).

Today a woman can be a stay at home mom or own a multimillion dollar empire, and they do. Women are among some...