Question

What was the Progressive Movement? Discuss why the Progressive Movement was necessary. Who were the progressives? What were their goals? Discuss the xenophobic practices of some progressives. Is religiosity important? If so, why? If not, why not? Was there a “real” progressive movement for black people? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Progressive movement was a time of major reform and Changes that took place in the United States during the period 1890 to 1920.It was a social movement that sought to solve many injustices in the American economy and increase the opportunity for all.The major goals of the progressives were to promote the ideas of morality ,economic efficiency and social welfare.The progressive movement was important as it targeted in eliminating the corruption in the government.They also focused on family,education and many other important aspects of the society.The two important outcomes of the progressive movement was eighteenth and nineteenth amendments. The first outlawed the sale ,transport,manufacture and alcohol and the second enfranchised the women right to vote.The progressives take the view that the economic development is dampened due to the increasing inequality and hence the progressives focused on improving workers rights ,managing th e economies and monopolies making the government less corrupt.Some of the national leaders related to the Progressive movement were Theodore Roosevelt ,Robert M La Follete,Sr Charles Evans Hughes and Herbert Hoover.
Even though the progressives were successful in achieving some modern goals, they had very discriminatory policies and intolerant ideas. They supported restrictions on immigration and policies like Immigration Act of 1917, the National Quota Law of 1921 limited immigration based on nationality. Progressives promoted the concept of eugenics which was based on a racial and class hierarchy that placed white, Anglo-Saxon Protestants at the top. In 1907, US even passed a compulsory sterilisation law. In essence, progressives shrouded a racial agenda with progress and modernity
Regarding the religiosity historically there have been two strands of thought during the progressive movement .One is related to secular thought which believed that religion should be kept out of the politics and the other one is emerging from social values. Religiosity is not important and the politics should be kept away from religion.It will prevent from the emergence of one religion .