The Progressives | Period 7: 1890-1945 | AP US History | Khan Academy

Khan Academy
31 Oct 201807:33
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TLDRThe video script explores the transformative period of the Progressive Era in American history, following the Civil War. It highlights the diverse goals of Progressives, including muckrakers exposing corruption, politicians regulating big businesses, conservationists protecting natural resources, and advocates for women, children, and immigrants. The script discusses key reforms like the Pure Food and Drug Act, the eight-hour workday, women's suffrage, and Prohibition, while acknowledging the movement's internal contradictions, such as racial biases and eugenics. It concludes by reflecting on the effectiveness of Progressive reforms in addressing the social issues of the time.

Takeaways
  • 🏭 The post-Civil War era in America was marked by significant changes due to industrialization, urbanization, and immigration, which transformed the country's demographics and living conditions.
  • 🏙️ City living and factory work brought new social issues such as poverty, unsafe working conditions, and living environments.
  • 💼 The rise of big businesses led to monopolies and price-fixing, which stifled competition and raised concerns among the public.
  • 🗣️ The Progressive Era, starting in the 1890s, was initiated by reformers known as Progressives who sought remedies for social problems.
  • 📰 Muckrakers played a key role in exposing corruption and unsanitary factory practices, influencing public opinion and policy.
  • 🛠️ Progressives advocated for worker protections, including an eight-hour workday, safer conditions, and collective bargaining rights.
  • 👶 Efforts were made to advance the rights of women and children, such as limiting child labor and promoting access to birth control, culminating in women's suffrage through the 19th Amendment.
  • 🛡️ Reformers aimed to curb the power of big businesses through trust-busting and other antitrust measures, as exemplified by President Teddy Roosevelt's policies.
  • 🏛️ The Progressives sought to limit political corruption, including the passage of the 17th Amendment which allowed for the direct election of senators.
  • 🍺 Moral reform was another goal, leading to the 18th Amendment which prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol, reflecting the desire for a more orderly and humane society.
  • 🔄 Despite their shared belief in progress and the role of government intervention, the Progressives had internal divisions, including on issues of voting rights, immigration, and racial policies.
Q & A

  • What were the major changes in American life after the Civil War?

    -After the Civil War, American life underwent significant changes due to industrialization, urbanization, and immigration, which altered the demographics, living conditions, and occupational structures within the United States.

  • What social problems emerged as a result of city living and factory work during the Progressive Era?

    -Social problems such as poverty, unsafe working and living conditions, and the exploitation of workers emerged as a result of city living and factory work during the Progressive Era.

  • What is the term used to describe the reformers who advocated for remedies to social problems starting in the 1890s?

    -The reformers who advocated for remedies to social problems starting in the 1890s are known as the Progressives.

  • What were the roles of muckrakers during the Progressive Era?

    -Muckrakers were journalists, writers, and photographers who exposed corruption and unsanitary factory practices, contributing to public awareness and driving legislative changes.

  • What reforms did Progressives advocate for in terms of worker protections?

    -Progressives fought for an eight-hour workday, safer working conditions, and the right for workers to bargain collectively through unions.

  • How did the Progressives contribute to the advancement of women's rights?

    -Progressives advocated for limiting child labor, promoting access to birth control, and granting women the right to vote through the 19th Amendment.

  • What actions did politicians like President Teddy Roosevelt take against big businesses?

    -Politicians like President Teddy Roosevelt pursued trust-busting and fought against monopolies and price-fixing practices that stifled competition.

  • What was the significance of the 17th Amendment in terms of political reform during the Progressive Era?

    -The 17th Amendment was significant as it provided for the popular election of senators, which was a victory against political corruption and city political machines.

  • What was the goal of the moral reformers during the Progressive Era, and what major legislation did they achieve?

    -The goal of moral reformers was to make society more orderly and humane. Their major achievement was the passage of the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol.

  • What were some of the shared beliefs among Progressives that united them?

    -Shared beliefs among Progressives included the belief in progress and the idea that it was possible to improve society and make people better, as well as the role of government to step in and fix social problems.

  • What were some of the internal contradictions and divisions within the Progressive Movement?

    -Internal contradictions and divisions within the Progressive Movement included differing views on voting rights, immigration policies, and racial attitudes, with some advocating for literacy tests, residency requirements, and eugenics.

  • How did the Progressives' views on race and immigration influence their reform efforts?

    -The Progressives' views on race and immigration influenced their reform efforts by supporting assimilation policies and restrictions on 'undesirable' immigrants, reflecting the racial science and attitudes of the time.

  • What was the overall impact of the Progressive reform movement on the social problems caused by industrialization and urbanization?

    -The Progressive reform movement succeeded in curbing some of the worst problems of corruption, sanitation, and exploitation caused by industrialization and urbanization, but their goals and reforms were limited to those they deemed worthy of participating in American society.

Outlines
00:00
🌱 The Progressive Era: Reform and Social Change

The first paragraph introduces the transformative period following the Civil War in the United States, known as the Progressive Era. It highlights the impact of industrialization, urbanization, and immigration on American society, leading to new social issues like poverty and unsafe conditions in urban areas and factories. The rise of big businesses resulted in monopolies and price-fixing, prompting the emergence of reformers called Progressives, who sought to address these issues from the 1890s through the 1920s. The paragraph outlines the diverse goals of Progressives, including muckrakers exposing corruption, politicians regulating businesses, conservationists protecting natural resources, and female reformers advocating for better conditions for women, children, and immigrants. The summary emphasizes the broad range of reforms pursued by Progressives, such as sanitation and consumer protection laws, workers' rights, women's suffrage, trust-busting, political corruption reduction, and moral reforms like Prohibition. It also notes the complexity of comparing the goals and effects of such a diverse group of reformers.

05:00
🔍 The Contradictions of Progressivism: Inclusivity and Exclusivity

The second paragraph delves into the contradictions within the Progressive Movement, revealing a complex picture of inclusivity and exclusivity. While Progressives expanded democracy by securing women's right to vote, they also sought to restrict voting rights to 'good voters,' primarily white, educated, native-born individuals. They imposed literacy tests and residency requirements in the North and did not challenge Jim Crow Laws in the South. On immigration, while some Progressives like Jane Addams advocated for immigrant rights, the majority supported assimilation and restrictions on 'undesirable' immigrants from certain regions. The paragraph also touches on the flawed racial science of the time, which influenced Progressives' views on voting rights and citizenship. It mentions the support for segregation and eugenics by some Progressives, which had a negative impact on African Americans and other marginalized groups. The summary concludes by reflecting on the Progressives' goals to improve society through government intervention but also acknowledges the limitations of their vision, which often excluded those they deemed unworthy of participating in American society.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Civil War
The American Civil War was a conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 between the Northern states (Union) and the Southern states (Confederacy) that seceded from the United States. In the context of the video, the Civil War marks a significant historical event that preceded the period of enormous changes in American life, setting the stage for the subsequent era of industrialization and urbanization.
💡Industrialization
Industrialization refers to the shift from an agrarian economy to one dominated by industry and manufacturing. It is a key concept in the video as it describes the transformation of the American economy post-Civil War, leading to urbanization and changes in the composition of the population, as well as new social and economic challenges.
💡Urbanization
Urbanization is the process of migration from rural to urban areas, resulting in the growth of cities. In the video, urbanization is highlighted as a consequence of industrialization, affecting where people lived and how they earned their livelihoods, and contributing to the emergence of new social problems.
💡Immigration
Immigration in the video refers to the large-scale movement of people into the United States from other countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a significant factor in the demographic changes of the era, influencing the social fabric and the labor force, and becoming a focus for Progressive reformers.
💡Progressives
The Progressives were a diverse group of reformers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who sought to address social problems arising from industrialization and urbanization. They are central to the video's theme, advocating for various reforms to improve living and working conditions, and to regulate big businesses.
💡Muckrakers
Muckrakers were journalists, writers, and photographers who exposed corruption and unsanitary conditions in factories. They played a crucial role in the Progressive Era by bringing public attention to social issues, as exemplified by Upton Sinclair's novel 'The Jungle,' which led to the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.
💡Monopolies
A monopoly is a market situation where a single company controls the supply of a product or service. In the video, monopolies are presented as a negative consequence of the rise of big business, limiting competition and leading to price fixing, which the Progressives sought to regulate.
💡Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906
The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was a piece of legislation passed in response to public outrage over unsanitary conditions in food production, as exposed by muckrakers like Upton Sinclair. It represents a key achievement of the Progressives in the area of sanitation and consumer protection.
💡Eight-hour workday
The eight-hour workday is a labor standard that limits the length of a regular workday to eight hours. The video mentions it as one of the goals of the Progressives who fought for better working conditions, including shorter workdays and safer working environments for workers.
💡19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution granted women the right to vote, marking a significant advancement in women's rights and political participation. It is highlighted in the video as one of the key achievements of the Progressives in advancing the rights of women.
💡Teddy Roosevelt
President Teddy Roosevelt, mentioned in the video, was a prominent figure during the Progressive Era. He is known for his trust-busting policies, which aimed to break up monopolies and promote fair competition, reflecting the Progressives' efforts to regulate big businesses.
💡17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment changed the way senators were elected, shifting from selection by state legislatures to direct election by the people. The video cites this as a victory for the Progressives in their fight against political corruption and the influence of party bosses in city political machines.
💡18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol, was a significant moral reform achievement of the Progressives. It aimed to make society more orderly and humane by addressing the social issues associated with alcohol consumption.
💡Eugenics
Eugenics is a controversial and now largely discredited social philosophy advocating for improving human genetic traits through selective breeding. The video mentions it as a part of the Progressive Movement, indicating some reformers' belief in improving the American gene pool, which included controversial practices like forced sterilizations.
Highlights

After the Civil War, American life underwent significant changes due to industrialization, urbanization, and immigration.

New social problems such as poverty and unsafe working conditions emerged with city living and factory work.

The rise of big business led to monopolies and price-fixing, limiting competition.

The Progressive Era, starting in the 1890s, was marked by a series of reforms aimed at addressing social issues.

Reformers, known as Progressives, worked on diverse issues including corruption, big business, and women's rights.

Muckrakers exposed corruption and unsanitary factory practices through journalism, writing, and photography.

Upton Sinclair's novel 'The Jungle' led to the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, improving food safety.

Progressives fought for an eight-hour workday, safer working conditions, and collective bargaining rights for workers.

Reforms aimed at advancing women's and children's rights included limiting child labor and promoting birth control access.

The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, a significant achievement for female reformers.

President Teddy Roosevelt pursued antitrust actions against trusts and monopolies to foster competition.

The 17th Amendment allowed for the popular election of senators, reducing political corruption.

Moral reformers sought to make society more orderly through measures like the 18th Amendment, which banned alcohol.

Progressives believed in the possibility of societal improvement and the role of government in addressing social problems.

The Progressive Movement marked a shift from the laissez-faire approach of the Gilded Age to government intervention.

Despite their goals, Progressives had internal divisions, including on issues like voting rights and immigration.

Progressives advocated for literacy tests and residency requirements, reflecting a bias towards certain demographics.

The movement's stance on immigration often involved promoting assimilation and restricting 'undesirable' immigrants.

Some Progressives supported eugenics, aiming to 'improve' the American gene pool through selective reproduction.

The Progressive Era's reforms addressed some of the worst problems of industrialization but were limited in scope.

The effectiveness of Progressive reforms can be further assessed by examining the societal changes in the '20s and '30s.

Transcripts

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Progressive EraSocial ReformIndustrializationUrbanizationImmigrationMuckrakersWorker RightsWomen's RightsPolitical ReformEconomic ControlCultural Assimilation