'Corporatism' In The Progressive Era

The progressive Era was times in History were local state and federal government took a leap forward in power and activism. In addition, the progressive era, was a time of development of new reforms and changes for America. Progressivism handles a wide range of problems and struggle for America. Such problems were created by unstructed industrialization, urbanization and immigration. As well as, the unfavorable distribution of power and wealth. Progressives believed strongly that problems such as these needed immediate action. Progressives existed in churches, organized labor, local political life, organizations and progressives of high education. Progressives wanted to make America better through inniatives, arranged action, idealism and social scientific research. Progressive had a tendency to expect the best possible outcome of situations. By, the 1920’s, progressives put in effect, changes of all aspects of society and government. Nevertheless, progressives had unhonorable qualities as well. They were biased of class and prejudiced against races.

The Progressive Era was a thirty year period in which the United States was completely reformed. Actions were taken to improve working conditions for laborers, create a sexually unbiased work system and regulate the economy. President Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson both helped create a more direct democracy in which the people would have a voice. During those thirty years, amendments 16 to 19 were ratified to regulate and reform the country. Muckrakers were writers who worked for the printing companies exposed the public to all of the corruption that was occurring both openly and behind closed doors. By exposing the public to the corruption, American society was enlightened and inspired to reform itself.

The turn of the 20th century sparked a movement of reform. It included large groups and individuals with a passion and desire to make life better during the industrial age. Their ideas and works were known as progressivism, as reformers wanted to improve, change, and build upon society, government, and much more. One of the biggest progressive groups to emerge during this time were the muckrakers. Samuel Hopkins Adams was one of the most important muckrakers during the Progressive Era.

The early to mid 1900s proved to be a whirlwind for politics and society as a whole. While there were a plethora of issues to be dealt with within the Progressive Era, one of the most noteworthy issues to discuss would be that of the working class and the businessmen of the first quarter of the 1900s. The reason why these two portions of society within the Progressive Era are the most relevant to discuss stems from the fact that during the Progressive Era there was a great gap between the upper-class (businessmen) and the lower-class (working class). It was during this time that the country was experiencing great changes to its political platform with several new types of initiatives being taken. The applicability of these reforms and initiatives during this era will be talked about.

The progressive era was a time period during 1890-1913 when the United States was at the tip of changing its lifestyle to something better for everyone, especially the poor. During the 1920s, 105 million immigrants had come to the United States hoping for a better lifestyle, however that brought a drastic change in the demand of products needed in the US, which led businesses to focus on the quantity, rather than the quality. Although this urbanization brought industrialization, most of those immigrants were disgusted by the kind of lifestyle they lived which Muckrakers helped improve. Muckrakers, a term used to call those people who bring awareness to the corruption in our society during that time period and were often journalists. This name

At the turn of the century America entered a new age that many historians call the Progressive Era. During this time period, the American Political system changed its view on how America should be brought about. It provided a purification of the American government through direct democracy. This era included many social and political reforms, which were brought about due to monopolies, and trust corporations.

The 1900s were full of many events that were induced by discrimination. For the greater part of the 20th century, America was not a meritocracy. The definition of meritocracy is when someone is treated based on how hard they have worked. Many people of color did not live in a world with meritocracy. Mexicans saw meritocracy as an unrealistic view. The dominant race usually treated other races as inferior, based off the color of skin. For this reason, many minorities suffered from discrimination and injustices. Many Americans violated the Fourteenth Amendment which gives citizens the right of not getting deprived of privileges. Two scenarios, the Lemon Grove Incident and the Mendez case point to a pattern of institutionalized discrimination

The middle and working classes were looked down upon by the wealthy capitalistic upper class. Muckrakers shed light on the shady business dealings the capitalistic upper class dealt in, and the corruption of politics. The society they showed made many Americans felt as though the fundamental principles and promises were violated. This is how progressivism was formed; a way to fix the broken society that many Americans now suffered in.

By the twentieth century, the rise of big business and the large migration of Americans from the countryside to the cities caused a shift in political awareness, as elected officials saw the need to address the growing economic and social problems that developed along with the urban boom. Progressives believed that the government needed to take a strong, proactive role in the economy, regulating big business, immigration, and urban

Progressivism all began as an intended social measure but it soon after became a political matter. Social Darwinism was rejected amongst many people during the progressive era. In other words, the majority of the people presumed that they could fight imperative societal problems such as violence, racism, and greed for money with educational efforts and safe workplaces. The people that fought for the progressive era fought for exposing corporate greed and bringing back democracy in order to stop the greed in the country. In this time period the economy was nearly controlled and in order to relieve the ruthlessness of greed, they formed people known as Muckrakers. These were associates of the press that would investigate workplaces of companies and pay attention to any suspicious activity relating to corruption. Essentially trying to eradicate the corruption and making it alert to the American people.

As the Gilded Age was ending, and the Progressive Era was emerging, most American families had to live with the harsh realities of sweatshops, slums, child labor, corruption in government and businesses, disease, and racial prejudice. People started to realize that change and reform were needed, that was when muckrakers came in trying to expose and show citizens the corruption in government and business, and also the terrible conditions of the working class Americans. Soon after the muckrakers published numerous articles, books, and photographs, people demanded change. Through individual and group actions, they were able to achieve this and get policies and programs enacted.

The Progressive Era was a time period between the years 1900-1920 and it marked a time in American history in which society was bursting with enthusiasm to improve life in the industrial age by making political and social changes through government action that ultimately led to a higher quality of life for American citizens. Progressives were known for their beliefs in limiting the power of big business, strengthening the power of the states, and were advocators against corruption and social injustice. These progressive reformers as well as the Federal Government successfully managed to improve the quality of life and establish a precedent for a move active government, although neither was completely successful in solving significant

The Populist and Progressive movements impacted history in agricultural living as well as industrial living through contributions to social awareness. Women suffrage evolved during these times, while segregation took strides backwards. The movements caused several events to occur and affected politics. In many ways, the movements shaped aspects of United States’ history that are significant and relevant

In reaction to the power the bourgeoisie have over the proletariat, the narrator uses her defense mechanism of acting out to get power over herself back. Acting out involves preforming external actions that mirror how one is internally feeling. This can be seen when the narrator breaks a rule in the manual, and seeks affection from her window friend in the male shelter. As she states, “Tonight, his light isn’t on and so we don’t wave, but still, I undress in front of my lit window. I can’t know if he’s watching from the darkness, or who else is watching, for that matter”(Cook 50). By undressing in the window, the narrator is showing the bourgeoisie that she is in control of her actions. Moreover, by changing her physical appearance, the narrator gains more control over her body. As she states, “For a couple of weeks I allow myself a little moment. I scrape other woman’s leftovers onto my plate. I eat the treats my old floor still sends, even though I don’t like them” (Cook 53). By increasing her food consumption, the narrator is making her self less desirable in the bourgeois lens; consequently limiting her chances of getting chosen by a wealthy person. Since she is in control of her desirability, this shows the narrators success in gaining power over her body and where she chooses to belong. Ultimately, through her defense mechanism of acting out, the narrator gains power over her actions and body back from the bourgeoisie.

Pluralism is a political theory that related to the acknowledgement for diversification that exist in society. Everyone has different views and appreciation for different value in life. Pluralism is a sign of theoretical standpoint on state ad power as well as resources. It depends on how it will be distributed in democratic state like United States of America (USA). Two famous name in mentioned by Manley (1983) in his article are Robert A. Dahl and Charles E. Lindblom. Pluralism in political system is open to multiple interests of different group in society. All (professional associations, environmentalist, business and financial lobbies etc) are governing the United