American History: A Survey 10/e   Alan Brinkley
	Online Learning Center

Summary

Convinced that rapid industrialization and urbanization had created serious problems and disorder, progressives shared an optimistic vision that organized private and government action could improve society. Progressivism sought to control monopoly, build social cohesion, and promote efficiency. Muckrakers exposed social ills that Social Gospel reformers, settlement house workers, and other progressives attacked. Meanwhile, increasing standards of training and expertise were creating a new middle class of educated professionals, including some women. The progressives tried to rationalize politics by reducing the influence of political parties in municipal and state affairs. Many of the nation’s problems could not be solved, some progressives believed, if alcohol were banned, immigration were restricted, and women were allowed to vote. Educated African Americans teamed with sympathetic whites to form the NAACP and begin the movement that eventually wiped away Jim Crow. Other progressives stressed the need for fundamental economic transformation through socialism or through milder forms of antitrust action and regulation.

Copyright ©1999 by The McGraw-Hill CompaniesInc. All rights reserved.Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
For further information about this site contact history@mcgraw-hill.com.