The Progressive Era: Crash Course US History #27

The script begins with a humorous introduction to the Progressive Era, a period of social activism and political reform across the United States. It contrasts the term 'progressive' with various modern interpretations and acknowledges the era's complexities, including its overlap with the Gilded Age and controversial policies like prohibition. The host, John Green, sets the stage for a discussion on the efforts made by progressives to address social and economic issues, such as inequality and injustice, through both radical and less radical means.

This paragraph delves into the challenges faced during the Progressive Era, particularly the exploitation of workers due to industrialization. Companies sought to maintain low wages, long hours, and poor working conditions to maximize profits. The rise of monopolistic industrial combinations, or trusts, raised concerns about their influence over people's lives. The script mentions the Sherman Anti-Trust Act as an early federal attempt to address these trusts, and highlights the role of muckraking journalism in exposing industrial and political abuses, as exemplified by Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle', which led to significant food safety legislation.

The script discusses the rise of labor movements and unions as a response to the harsh conditions of industrial work. It contrasts the efforts of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), which focused on organizing skilled workers, with the more radical International Workers of the World (IWW), or 'Wobblies', who advocated for a broader range of workers, including immigrants. The paragraph also touches on the innovative wage policy of Henry Ford, who paid his workers a then-unprecedented $5 per day, with the idea that they would become consumers of the products they produced. However, it also notes Ford's anti-union stance and other controversial aspects of his management style.

This section explores the emergence of a consumer culture during the Progressive Era, with mass-produced goods becoming increasingly accessible to the average American. The script suggests that this consumerism was seen by some as a new form of freedom, with advertising campaigns linking products to the concept of liberty. It also discusses the influence of thinkers like Simon W. Patten, who predicted that industrialization would lead to a more equitable society with increased leisure time. However, the paragraph also acknowledges the darker side of this consumerism, as it was often predicated on the exploitation of labor and concentration of wealth.

The final paragraph examines the role of government in addressing social problems during the Progressive Era. It contrasts the direct democracy movements, such as the initiative and referendum processes in states like California, with the push for expert-driven policy-making. The script highlights the tension between broadening democratic participation and the desire for efficient governance by experts. It also touches on the limitations placed on certain groups' political participation, such as immigrants and African Americans, through literacy tests and poll taxes, which effectively suppressed voting and reinforced racial segregation through Jim Crow laws.