ACT - Progressive Era Reforms

Progressive Reforms Progressivism was, first, an optimistic vision. Progressives believed, as their name implies, in the idea of progress. They believed that society was capable of improvement and that continued growth and advancement were the nation’s destiny. But progressives believe, too, that growth and progress could not continue to occur recklessly, as they had in the late nineteenth century. The “natural laws” of the marketplace, and the doctrines of laissez-faire and Social Darwinism that celebrated those laws, were not sufficient. Direct, purposeful human intervention in social and economic affairs was, they argued, essential to ordering and bettering society. Read and carefully consider these perspectives. Each suggests a particular way of thinking about bettering society. Perspective 1 Theodore Roosevelt used the 1890 Sherman Anti-Trust Act to “bust” up powerful monopolies and corporate trusts like the Northern Securities railroad trust and the Standard Oil trust. Perspective 2 The 1906 publication of Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” led to national food and drug regulations. Educator Abraham Flexner’s 1910 study of American medical colleges led to the reform of medical education. Perspective 3 Theodore Roosevelt became the first president to support works by intervening in the coal strike of 1902 on behalf of miners. Reformers also advocated for legislation regulating child labor and workplace safety. Essay Task Write a unified, coherent essay in which you evaluate multiple perspectives on Progressive reforms and explain which had a larger impact on society. In your essay, be sure to: • analyze and evaluate the perspectives given • state and develop your own perspective on the issue • explain the relationship between your perspective and those given Your perspective may be in full agreement with any of the others, in partial agreement, or wholly different. Whatever the case, support your ideas with logical reasoning and detailed, persuasive examples.