The Progressives Vs. Today

The Progressives vs. Today

The Progressive Era was a time of reform taking place from the 1890s to the 1920s. During the Progressive Era, women's rights, African American's rights, and child labor were key issues dealt with. This Era had an overall attitude of toughness, and a parent might tell their child something along the lines of, "Man up and deal with it." But how would someone from the Progressives view our society today?

During the Progressive Era, efforts were focused on land conservation and improving the environment. No one from this time could have foreseen what was to come in the 21st century. Global warming and people's total disregard for protecting our environment would surely shock or upset someone from the time. Teddy Roosevelt worked hard to conserve land for later generations. Today, pollution and overpopulation seem to have ruined what Roosevelt set out to do. This definitely would anger a supporter of Roosevelt, or someone living in the Progressive Period.

Our country had no problem intervening in foreign affairs a hundred years ago. Today, this seems to have not changed at all. Look at the war in Iraq Ð'- America intervened when some believe it was not our place. Someone from the Progressive Era could relate to this, however, today most realize when it is not America's place as a country to step in, while back during the Progressives most people did not think like this. Someone from the Progressive Era would be happy to see this tradition still carried on, making America seem dominating.

Media-wise, muckrakers and other writers exposed corruption in society. Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle had countless effects on America. Roosevelt called for immediate action and organized an investigation into the packinghouses in Chicago and other cities. From this came the production of the Meat Inspection Bill and later the creation of the Food and Drug Administration. This is still an active group today, and anyone from the Progressives would be impressed to see something Roosevelt helped create still being active today. Journalists today still fight to get the truth for American citizens and do whatever they have to do. This too would please someone from the Progressive Era, seeing how far we have come since one hundred years ago.

Someone from the Progressive Era would probably focus most of his or her efforts today on improving the environment. They would most likely be impressed when they saw how state parks and areas such as these are still conserved. However, they would be horrified to see how the environment is falling apart, and even more horrified to see how few people actually care about it. Politically, America back then was a major world power, always getting involved in other country's affairs. America still seems to be doing that today, and someone from the Progressives would probably encourage even more of it, thinking that America should be dominant over all. Their thoughts on this topic would without