What Are Three Results of the Progressive Movement?

The Progressive Movement sought to improve conditions for immigrants.

The Progressive Movement was a reaction to the growth and industrialization of the American economy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During that time, millions of people immigrated to the United States in search of jobs and better lives. They worked in factories under conditions that threatened their safety and lived in poor, overcrowded neighborhoods that compromised their health. Many industries that mass-produced goods lacked standards or guidelines to guarantee quality and consumer safety. The Progressive Movement exposed those problems and tried to solve them through political, social and economic regulations and reforms.

Labor Regulations

During the first decade of the 20th century, millions of immigrants and Americans from rural communities found jobs in labor-hungry factories. Hours were long, pay was low and working conditions ranged from unhealthy to dangerous. Laws were passed to limit child labor, to improve working conditions and to establish a system of compensation for workers hurt on the job. Some industry leaders fought government oversight claiming it was unconstitutional. Others voluntarily adopted measures to ensure worker safety. The Progressive Movement fought to establish government's role in regulating the workplace. Government oversight has since expanded and became an accepted and important part of American industry.

Food and Drug Laws

Upton Sinclair's novel, "The Jungle," is often credited with triggering improvements in the U.S. meat packing industry. Sinclair's description of the brutal conditions in Chicago stockyards led to sanitation standards and mandatory inspections of American slaughterhouses. In 1906, Congress passed legislation that created The Food and Drug Administration, which was responsible for testing products meant for human consumption. Progressive Movement reformers advocated for similar safety standards in other industries that produced foods and medicines. Americans have come to rely on government agencies to ensure the quality and safety of those products and to verify the labeling and marketing information used to sell them.

Income Taxes

The 16th Amendment, passed by Congress in 1909 and ratified by the states in 1913, established the government's right to set and collect a graduated income tax. The new tax gave the government a steady source of revenue to carry out the Progressive Movement's slate of changes, which included a range of programs such as banning the sale of alcohol and overseeing the conservation of natural resources. The 16th Amendment created a permanent system that made all working Americans responsible for the support of government agencies created to protect society's best interests.

The Progressive Era's Legacy

The Progressive Movement is sometimes seen as a united reform movement motivated by altruistic goals. Progressive activists were actually a complex mix of people and organizations with different theories on human behavior and different priorities. In general, progressives shared a belief that the problems of modern life could be solved through government oversight, increased use of technology and social engineering. Their legacy has been a broad expansion of government's role in many areas of everyday life.

References

• Academic America: The Progressive Era: The Great Age of Reform
• University of Iowa: Child Labor in U.S. History
• U.S. Dept. of Labor: Progressive Era Investigations
• Library of Congress: History of the US Income Tax
• Princeton University: "American Economic Reform in the Progressive Era ...; Thomas C. Leonard; 2009
• Economic History Association: History of Food and Drug Regulation in the United States