Progressive Era Projects

Background. During the Progressive Era America began cleaning up its act, dealing with the problems created by industrialization, urbanization, immigration, exploitation of labor and political corruption. Some have argued that if the Progressive Movement had not come along when it did, the country might have exploded into violence or political upheaval of some kind. By the 1809s government seemed incapable of dealing with the many challenges of the industrial revolution, and traditional means of dealing with social problems such as churches and other charitable organizations had become inadequate to meet the problems posed by millions of immigrants and a dispirited labor force. Socialism and Communism were advancing in parts of the world and were not unknown in the United States. Clearly massive action was needed to avert possible disaster, and the Progressives provided that.

Two leading Progressives, Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican, and Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, each reflected the Progressive spirit. At the fringe of the political spectrum were the Socialists, who ran an effective presidential campaign with candidate Eugene Debs in 1912. In that election the three progressive-oriented candidates—Theodore Roosevelt, Progressive; Woodrow Wilson, Democract; Eugene Debs, Socialist—won 75% of the popular vote, demonstrating that the American people strongly supported progressivism, regardless of their political orientation.

Project ideas:

The Roosevelts: Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt were botth progressive presidents, and Eleanor Roosevelt, niece of Theodore and wife of Franklin, was the most progressive (read Liberal) of all of three of them. You could take part of the Roosevelts Project and focus on progressive issues—perhaps comparing the progressive policies of Franklin and Theodore.

The Progressive Era. To get at the Progressive Era directly, consider the following:

• First, check topic summary
• Look over the Progressive Era date list.
• Review the section on Gilded Age Politics.

Then consider these documents:

• Theodore Roosevelt on Progressive Issues:
  • Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural, 1905
• Theodore Roosevelt on Labor Issues and Collective Bargaining
• TR on Trusts
• Conservation
• The "New Nationalism"—1910
• Progressive Party Acceptance Speech, 1912
• Papers of President Theodore Roosevelt
• The Populist Party Platform of 1892
• Lincoln Steffens: "The Shame of the Cities"
• For a Web Site on Steffens and His Work Click Here
• For an Excerpt go to-> Steffens, Excerpt
• Upton Sinclair:  "The Jungle"
• Click here for the Entire Novel
• For an excerpt see -> Sinclair, The Jungle
• The Socialist Party Platform of 1912
• Woodrow Wilson: The New Freedom
• Jane Addams on Government
• Presidents Taft and Wilson on Dollar Diplomacy
• Hammer v. Dagenhart & Lochner v. New York

Assignment: Write an essay in which you evaluate the meaning of the Progressive Era. Consider some of the following questions.

• What were the most important problems the Progressives tried to solve?
• What were their basic goals?
• What were the major obstacles?
• Can you find the roots of the Progressive Era in the Populist Movement?
• Why was the Progressive Era necessary?
• In what sense was the Progressive Movement conservative, reflecting the concept of "enlightened self-interest"?
• What do you suppose would have happened had the "Gilded Age" continued?
• Why is Theodore Roosevelt often seen as the first Progressive president?
• How did the progressivism of Woodrow Wilson differ from that of Theodore Roosevelt, if at all?
• What were the issues in the election of 1912?
• Why do some politicians today call themselves Progressives? Why do some call themselves Populists? Are those concepts still alive? How do they relate to past experiences?

Project on Imperialism and World War I, “The Great War”

Back to Projects 122 | History 122 Part 1