Reform During Progressive Era In America

The Progressive Era reformers and the fedreal government were effective in bringing about reform at the national level by proof of amnedments passed, the food and drug administration, and various acts. One way that the progressives and federal government reformed America is by the four amendments; 16, 17, 18, and 19. The seventeenth amendment in 1913 provided for the direct election of senatros which was a victory for Roosevelt and pregressives. Another amendment passed during the Progressive Era was the abolition of alchohol, which is insignifigant in reform at the national level because it was later repealed.

Finally, there was the nineteenth amendment whih allowed women’s suffrage due to the progressive feminist movement. These different amendments were all ways in which the federal government helped reform America nationally. Upton Sinclair’s book, The Jungle, enlightened the American punlic of the horrors of the meatpacking industry. Consequently, the Meat Inspection Act of 1906, was passed making meat shipped over state lines subject to inspection.

Thus the food and drug administration was a result of the Progressive movement as well. Some of the various acts that were passed that met the pregressive standards are the Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914 which legalizes strikes and peaceful picketing; the Workingmen’s Compensation Act and another act restricting child labor on products headed into interstate commerce; the Adamson Act which established an 8-hour workday; the La Follete Seamens’s Act which required decent living wages for sailors, and a few other acts.

Jane Addam’s book, The Spirit of Youth and the City Streets, exhibits some of the pregressive feelings towards child labor and the evil of it. In conclusion, the federal government and the progressive Era were very effective in shaping and reforming America by these examples.