Progressive Era Happened Progressive Era

¶ … Era

What Would the U.S. Have Been Like without a Progressive Era?

What would have happened had there been no Progressive Era at the end of the 19th and early 20th century? The period between 1890 and 1920 saw the mobilization of several various platforms erected under social, economic and political banners -- all promoting progress in their respective fields. Had there been no Progressive Era, there would have been no women like Ida B. Wells, who became famous in the 19th century when she sued the railroad which made her give up her seat so a white man could sit in it. Wells later went on to write the editorial activist piece "Lynch Law," which drew attention to unjust and violently racist laws in effect in the post-War South. Had there been no Progressive Era, there would have been no voice for social equality, social fairness, and a new social doctrine regarding whites and blacks, like the one coming from Ida B. Wells.

Had the Progressive Era never occurred, the Temperance Movement never would have gained traction and the sale of alcohol never would have been criminalized. As it was, the Temperance Movement culminated in the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale of alcohol, gave men like Al Capone a reason to live, and introduced one of the rowdiest decades (The Roaring Twenties) in American history. The Temperance Movement built up a lot of steam in the years leading up to the 1920s -- but with the Great Depression, Americans decided enough was enough, and the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th.

Had there been no Progressive Era, it is unlikely that the Sixteenth Amendment ever would have been passed. This was the Amendment which foisted the income tax on the American people. Big business, the Federal Reserve, and "family" living supporters all pledged to be pulling for the same thing -- the American Dream -- a dream which turned out to be an economic nightmare. But Progressives were a tad deluded on this point. The Fed quickly became what it is today -- a currency devaluating monster; big business (promoted by Progressives like Teddy Roosevelt) got the "green" light on the political level, while the famous "Trust Buster" got applause for "breaking" the big corporate trusts and monopolies. (Roosevelt didn't really break up anything but rather, like the Sorcerer's Apprentice, chopped the big broomstick into a thousand smaller broomsticks -- all still marching to the drum of the same corporate entity in the end).

The Yellow Journalists got to whip up public scorn through the media. When the U.S.S. Maine blew up, the newspapermen were quick to blame it on the Spanish. The Spanish-American War followed and a new era of Imperialism was ushered in, with American forces taking their warships all the way to the Philippines. Had there been no Progressive Era, there would have been no new age of Imperialism, America would have remained isolationist, and men like famous author Mark Twain would not to have had to write some compelling arguments in support of the Anti-Imperialist League.