Progressive Era: The Rising Power of Women

AMST 3252W Final Paper

Progressive Era: The Rising Power of Women

We define the Progressive Era the time in American history at the turning point of the 20th century, the time when industrial Revolution has brought along rapid industrialization and economic development, but also severe conflicts in social groups. Through the huge economic shift in the society, the social awareness of gender roles came along. During this significant era, women’s power and rights have been lifted to a huge extent, with dedication and efforts of progressive mid-class women such as Jane Addams and Emma Goldman, to name just a few. Their strong influential political and social efforts have not only led to the passage of the 19th amendment, empowering women’s rights to vote, but also helped the federal government oversee such social problems as education, social welfare, environmental issues, health, and working conditions. All the magnificent investments by the insightful women activists have paid off in today’s perspective, helping the United States moving forward to democracy socially and politically.

The background of the movement was the Industrial Revolution. As a result of the other side of the coin of this revolution, between 1890s through 1920, waves of immigrations from outside of United States were arriving, numerous large cities were expanding, and as a result, issues of polarization of uneven social statuses, rates of infant mortality, and political concerns raised awareness of the public. Trains and factories with smoke in the first-ever-made video of electrocuting Leon Czologosz, implied the industrial civilization that resulted into some serious consequences. Jacob Riis, a great photographer took the picture, How the Other Half Lives (1891), describing the slums where lived the poor and criminals in New York City. The scene illustrated thoroughly the social problems engendered