Unit+3

Progressivism and Reform The Progressive Era, which lasted from approximately 1900 until 1915, was set in motion by events and processes during the last half of the 19th century. Although Progressive reformers had diverse agendas, they all found their roots in the problems engendered or exacerbated by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and widespread immigration. The movement became the catalyst for a number of fundamental changes in the American social and political fabric. While some Progressive reformers attempted to humanize the modern city, others were more concerned with the conditions of the workplace. Still other reformers sought to change the American political system either by eliminating corruption or enfranchising women. In their attempts to renew American democracy, extend ideas of freedom and equality, and end business and political corruption, Progressives fought to reform social ills on the local, state, and national levels. Confronting an unprecedented concentration of economic power, Progressive Era reformers sought to balance free market ideology with new forms of government intervention. They hoped to curb some of the excesses of the market without compromising personal and economic freedom and opportunity or hindering economic growth. While many Progressives worked tirelessly to improve American society, there were limits to the changes they could implement or even envision. In particular, indifference to the plight of the rural poor, hostility toward radical labor unions, and racism toward African-Americans severely circumscribed the Progressive agenda. In the midst of great economic upheaval, demographic transformation, and political dislocation, Americans during the Progressive Era sought to maintain a national identity and their core values. Some historians say that the Progressives set the agenda for the twentieth century. The issues that concerned them, as well as the strategies they created to address those issues, continue to shape American society into the twenty-first century.
 * Unit Historical Overview **

Students begin their study of the Progressive Era by exploring problems exacerbated by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. They use a variety of primary and secondary sources to identify various social issues that grabbed the attention of reformers. Students explore the role of muckrakers and their efforts to increase public awareness of social ills through editorials, books, and photographs. Students then select a particular social issue to be the subject of their own editorial. Students also explore how Progressives proposed to address these problems. After sharing the results of their investigations, students discuss how the concepts of freedom and equality influenced Progressive reforms. Students continue their study by analyzing how Progressive reformers used government to address social problems. They next focus on the women’s suffrage movement in detail, including the people and strategies employed to gain the eventual ratification of the 19th Amendment. In evaluating the success of the Progressive Era, students consider attempts to balance free market ideology and ideas of freedom and equality. Throughout the unit students engage in a case study of the automobile industry to answer specific questions about consequences of industrialization and reform. They conclude the unit by presenting the results of their investigations and drawing conclusions. In doing so, students consider whether businesses practices in the automobile industry illustrate the causes and consequences of industrialism and Progressivism, and assess its impact on Michigan and American society.
 * Unit Abstract **

How did evolving ideas of freedom and equality influence Americans as the United States became an industrialized world power?
 * Essential Question: **


 * Focus Questions **
 * How was the Progressive Movement a reaction to changes that took place in the United States during 1877-1915?
 * How does the automobile industry provide an example of the causes and consequences of major industrial transformations in America?
 * How successful was the Progressive Movement in addressing concerns facing Americans?

Lesson 1 - Situations Raising Public Awareness: Economic Concentration Lesson 2 - Exposing a Public Issue: Muckrakers Lesson 3 - Public Outrage: The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Lesson 4 - Building a Case for Reform Lesson 5 - Reform and Reform Organizations Lesson 6 - Case Study of Reform: Women’s Suffrage Movement Lesson 7 - The Progressive Party and Democratic Reforms: City, State, and Constitutional Changes Lesson 8 - Evaluating the Progressive Movement Lesson 9 - A Case Study of Industrialism and Reform - Presentations