Lesson 2.01 Origins of the Progressive Era

• Introduction
• Learn
• Try It
• Task

Introduction

Central Question: How did the social and economic conditions of the Gilded Age contribute to the Progressive era? 

Can you think of a time when it took a tragedy to bring about change? Sometimes we do not realize there is a problem until something terrible happens. For example, the state of Alabama, particularly the city of Tuscaloosa, realized the need for better warning systems and shelters after the loss of life that occurred during the tragic tornadoes in April of 2011. The same was true throughout our history including the late 1800s and early 1900s. Stories written by journalists known as muckrakersReform-minded journalists of the Progressive Era publicized tragedies and exposed wrong doing and corruption helped to bring about reform.

Analyze the political cartoon below, titled "A Nauseating Job, But It Must Be Done", Saturday Globe, 1906. Rollover the blue markers on the image to learn more about where these investigative journalists got their nickname, muckrakers.

"A Nauseating Job, But It Must Be Done" Political Cartoon text version | Open "A Nauseating Job, But It Must Be Done" Political Cartoon in a new tab

Though the Gilded AgeTime period in American history from 1870-1900 brought much glamour and glory to American cities, it was also a period of great struggle and pain for many. The growing pains of the Gilded Age were real. The corruption and greed of the era negatively affected the daily lives of many Americans. A look at the underside of city life revealed countless Americans and immigrants living in squalor with open sewage in dark, cramped conditions. Factories, with all of their prosperity and stature, were full of hazardous conditions and little job security. Over time, however, Americans responded to the strife around them by forming labor unions, electing new leaders, and supporting reform measures. These efforts not only improved their quality of life, but also paved the road for future reforms during the next era of American history-the Progressive EraPeriod of reform in the US from 1890s-1920.