Question

Discuss the pros and cons of Progressive Reforms. (1901-1920)
Examples, consider:
•The social purity movement
•The anti alcohol movement
•Business regulations
•Race reform and federal employment

Answer 1

Progressivism in the United States is a reform movement which was given birth after the rapid changes brought in through modernization. The basic principle of Progressive era was particularly focused on the demand for efficiency in each area of the society.

Pros:

1. The very first area on which this movement paid stress was to eradicate the corruption from politics and purify the illegal voting system which included the close down of Saloons; mandatory registration for voting, ending multiple voting by the people; and conduct of literacy tests , which were specifically designed to reduce the count of voters who are ignorant to all this. Many progressives at that time , wanted to make the US government more answerable and responsive to the needs and direct voice of the American people. This has led the present progressives emphasize more on racial equality and minority rights.

2. Progressives also paid their contribution towards fighting for women suffrage in order to strain the elections using purer female voters.

3.There was also a change in authority for system of Municipal Corporation; which waswidely unorganized, was now believed to be given authority to professionals, and experts for these services.

4. The topmost agenda of the progressives was focused on universal and comprehensive system of education. with the advent of modernization, compulsory education was felt necessary at that time.

5. Progressives gave rise to an organized sector for labours with eight-hour work day, better safety and health conditions in facories and came up with various laws supporting and further expanding the area of workmen's compensation.

6. Many progressives believed that the Saloons causes damage to children and women and also limits the potential of human being to grow more and get advanced.They successfully passed the law for the ban of saloons in most rural areas.

Cons:

1. The education reforms during progressive era were contradictory and confusing. Everyone could not understand the basic idea behind the implementation of new laws thus creating ruccus and emerging debates.

2. The voting system was widely criticized due to elimination of blacks and seizure of their voting rights in South side. This drive was seen as the act of social control.

3. The act of liberating large corporations from industrial capitalism was further split into two debates and the federal government stressed on the fact that large corporations must be regulated to keep them existing and work with alignment of public interest.

4. The steps taken towards the prohibition of Saloons were also short temporal and all the enforcements went in vain because of the emerging illegal market of alcohol in the country.