The Progressive Movement

The Progressive Movement
The Progressive Movement started in 1901 and lasted until World War I hit America in 1917.   This reform movement started as a response to the growing industries and growing middle class which lead to political and corporate abuses.   The progressivism reforms were initiated by individuals, cities, states, and even national levels of the governments, and the topics of these reforms ranged from child labor, to temperance, and even prostitution.   During this decade and a half, many changes occurred in the history of the United States as an attempt to drive out all the ill caused by the increasing industrialization.   This essay will address the different types of reforms that occurred and the many prominent individuals who made possible these changes.
An illustrious group of individuals that were of great influence during the progressive era are the Muckrakers.   The Muckrakers were primarily mare journalists and reporters who investigated corruption in order to expose the problems to the American People.   They were responsible for influencing the public and aiding in the passage of laws designed to reform the abuses that they reported.   These Muckrakers published in magazines, newspaper articles, and some even wrote books.   In addition, many of these individuals won National Acclamations.   For example, Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle exposed hazardous working conditions and unsanitary procedures in the meat-packing industry which lead to the passage of the “Meat Inspection Act” and the “Pure Food and Drug Act” in 1906.   In addition, Thomas Nast was the artist responsible for the political cartoons which disclosed the political corruption by New York City’s political machine, Tammany Hall which was lead by Boss Tweed.   As a response to his cartoons, Tweed was convicted on the charge of embezzlement and passed away during his jail sentence.   Moreover, a more close to home measure would be Frank Norris’ The Octopus.   The Octopus was written as a...