Progressivism

Progressivism was an era that desired movement toward reform; it was not single instance but based on a series of advancements. With a new urban-industrial American on deck came the socioeconomic challenges of every day life. At a basic level, it was a response to the political and cultural changes that plagued the nation, the challenges as side effect of an industrial society. Many people were involved in Progressivism, especially the middle class. Even the immigrant, slum dwellers, and hard laborers took some initiative in hopes to refine the system. Collectively, the people mobilized the series of actions that demanded and granted changes the society of the nation, creating an era that was recognized for the progressive movement that led to outcomes that changed the socioeconomic status of America.
Major concerns engulfed the nation’s society, thus leading to the desire for reform. Some of the central issues included the spread of poverty, the exploitation of labor, monopolies, the breakdown of democratic government, and social injustice. Overall the problems promoted a rapid movement toward financial and industrial concentration and the people were simply a side affect. Most jobs were performed under hazardous conditions and for very little in wages. Wages were not even enough to support a family let alone feed their starving children. There was an absence of sick day, vacation time and certainly no benefits. Many workers were injured on the job and some even died as result, an example of the atrocities can be seen in many of the exposes by Lincoln Steffen, The Shame of Cites (1901) and Jane Adams encouraged that a workers level they demand better conditions (Democracy and Social Ethics [1902] and Twenty Years at the Hull House [1910]). From miners inhaling toxic substances causing respiratory disease (Granites Cutter Journal), to textile mills burring to the ground with no chance for escape due to locked doors as exemplified in the incident of the