Progressive Era vs New Deal

New Deal vs. Progressive Era During both the Progressive era and the New Deal era, policies as well as programs were being created in an effort to assist the American public, specifically those living in poverty. Throughout the early 1900’s Roosevelt had strayed away from the typical laissez-faire policy and decided that the people would need to be guided by the government. “Wilsonian Progressivism” had also aimed at assisting the public with his “New Freedom Program” which consisted of antitrust legislation, banking reform as well as tariff reductions. After the stock market crashed in 1929, America had fallen into a Great Depression resulting in the unemployment of millions. Newly elected Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to present his New Deal policy which focused on three methods of helping America: relief (immediate action to temporarily lessen the suffering), recovery (executive and legislative initiatives intended to get the economy starting), and reform (permanent programs used to reduce the possibility of another economic disaster). Both the Progressive era and New Deal era policies and programs had similarities and differences in their approach to helping the American public. The programs and policies created during both era’s had been directed toward similar groups of people in need, such as the labor groups. Roosevelt had stood up for labor rights during the Pennsylvania coal mines dispute where the workers demanded a 20 percent increase in pay. Roosevelt had ordered the employers to give the workers a 10 percent increase as well as a working day of nine hours. To enforce his decision he established the Department of Commerce and Labor which spawned the Bureau of Corporations which was given the permission to investigate businesses engaged in interstate commerce. Wilson had helped the laborers with the Seamen’s Act of 1915 which required decent treatment and a living wage on American merchant ships. Franklin Roosevelt also helped the suffering labor