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Josh Jacobs
Mrs. Green
US History
7 October 2016

Reforms of the Progressive Era

Reforms during the progressive age were meant to better society, and these reforms were
lead by people who were affected by what the wanted to change, for example women protested
for the right for all women to vote, blacks wanted to reform lynchings, and laborers wanted to
create safer working environments. Muckrakers were responsible for bringing some of these
issues to light, and brought it to the everyday citizens attention that some of these issues were
occurring such as the unsanitary meat that was being sold to the consumers, as the consumers did
not know. This was brought to light by a book published called The Jungle.
The Civil Rights movement was a social reform that was a movement that advocated for
the rights of African-Americans to vote. The movement was achieved through various protests
and consistent demands for their rights. This resulted in African-American citizens gaining the
right to vote, and run for office, as well as it being mandatory for blacks to have the same rights
and freedoms, as white citizens. Another social reform of The Progressive Era was the Federal
Meat Inspection Act. It was passed by congress in 1906, and it made it illegal for companies to
sell meat that was unsanitary, and unsafe to eat. Works such as The Jungle published by Upton
Sinclair described in graphic descriptions the uncleanliness of the factories where meat was
being processed. This created a flood of muckraking and made people aware of what they were
eating and how unsanitary their food was, and that they must work to resolve the issue.

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Economic reforms included, the movement of fighting Labor Abuse and Sweatshops,
the children, and workers in general were working long hours, and for very little wages, as well
as the dangerous working conditions that they worked in daily. This issue was resolved through
the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act in 1916 which was short-lived and prevented the sale of
goods produced by factories that employed children. This was eventually replaced by the Federal
Provisions in 1938, that made sure that if children worked, the conditions could not pose a threat
to the childrens health, education, and overall well-being. Ida B. Tarbell published A History of
the Standard Oil Company that exposed the destruction that the company was bringing to the
environment, as well as the stock swindling, and corruption that the company took part in, as it
tried to expand, and make more money. This brought the problems of unchecked business to the
public's eye, and showed how all competition had been bought out by Large Oil Companies such
as Standard Oil and created a monopoly in the industry where one company ruled the price on
demand. Theodore Roosevelt worked to solve this problem by giving larger opportunity to
smaller businesses, and breaking up bad trusts.
One of the many political reforms of the progressive era was women gaining the right to
vote ,individually of their husbands. This was achieved through marches, and conventions such
as the the Seneca Falls convention of 1848. Women would gain the right as a part of the 19th
Amendment in 1920, after over 2 decades of agitation, and multiple protests. Along with this,
citizens began to advocate for the right to elect their own Senators, instead of political machines
deciding the candidates. This was achieved through the 17th Amendment of the Constitution,
which was passed on May 13, 1912 which allowed for State legislatures to decide the Senators
to in April 8, 1913, citizens gaining the right to vote for Senators of their choice. This

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Amendment gave more power to the people and, and as an effect the Federal Government lost
power, thus supporting that our government is of the people and by the people.
The overall effect of all of these reforms, was the people, the citizens of the United
States, gaining power, and becoming more aware of their rights, that they are entitled to. The
United States was greatly improved by these reforms, firstly from the increase in opportunity for
ALL people, blacks, and women, gaining the right to vote,and children other laborers who had to
work long hours for low pay, in unsafe working conditions. The right to protest and reform, is a
right that we are so very fortunate to have in our country, few other countries are given that
privilege, and in the progressive era we used that privilege to the best it could be used, which
was to create a more perfect union. The reforms gave a power check to the people in power,
and elevated those who were under the shoes of the people in power, and thus helped any citizen,
of any race, religion, or gender, further pursue life, liberty, and happiness, however they felt lead
to, and this is what makes our country so great, opportunity: for all.