Progressivism and the New Deal

Progressivism and the New Deal

            The Progressivism Era (1900 to 1920) involved social activism and changes in the political systems in the United States, where the main goal was to eliminate corruption in the administration. Corrupt officials and sectors were scrutinized as a way of establishing democracy in the country. Also, competition in businesses was to be established through the control of monopolies by enacting antitrust laws. On the contrary, the New Deal (1933 to 1941) involved multiple legislations, which were enacted to secure banks and industries and create employment opportunities for the jobless. President Franklin Roosevelt came up with the New Deal program immediately after his election to raise the economy levels, as the effects of the Great Depression were still evident across the United States. The Progressive Era and the New Deal were different periods of government intervention, as diverse motives were behind making laws and their implementation in which various individuals contributed to implementing the changes in American society. These American eras were different in that; the Progressive Era was a deliberate movement towards complementing the economy, with separate goals, as it sought exploration of new opportunities in the industry, and most of the legislation passed at state and local levels did not lead to social liberation. On the contrary, the New Deal was a response to a struggling economy, with main aims and goals directed towards solving unemployment problems, and legislations passed at the federal level resulted in various changes, such as direct financial relief among citizens.

First, the Progressive Era was characterized by the refinement of the government, which focused on social issues, such as education and discrimination at the national level of the government. Progressives, such as Evans Hughes, sought to eliminate corrupt officials in the national government and establish social justice to all people (Brinkley, Giggie & Huebner, 2016). The political ideology campaigned for integrating modern processes in engineering, scientific, and medical fields. Accomplishments noted in the Progressive Era includes the attainment of women’s suffrage. Also, the 19^th Amendment to the US Constitution was implemented, which allowed women to vote and run for legislative seats, and was an achievement towards the protection of social welfare. Another accomplishment in the era was the implementation of reforms in the child labor laws in which minimum working ages were set, the number of work hours was limited, and compulsory education legislation passed. Thirdly, during the Progressive era, meat inspection laws were passed, which ensured sanitary conditions were maintained in slaughterhouses and meat processing places. Besides, the sales of misbranded and adulterated cattle were prohibited.

On the other hand, the New Deal involved organized legislation procedures, which aimed at economic relief, recovery from the Great Depression, and reformation. President Franklin Roosevelt, who was the forerunner of the movement, aimed at placing most of the citizens in employment to build and improve the nation’s infrastructure and the entire economy (Smith, 2014). Immediately after his inauguration, Roosevelt began the reforms in the legislation of banking laws, emergency relief, and agricultural programs. Afterward, a second New Deal involved the implementation of union protection programs and helping farmers and migrant workers. Accomplishments realized in the New Deal era involved the creation of massive employment opportunities through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) relief program, which placed unemployed people on planting trees, creating fire towers, and restoring forests (Brinkley, Giggie & Huebner, 2016). Also, the era strengthened capitalism, as reforms were implemented in banking, and in major industries, which lessened economic depression. Besides, the American economic system was restored as standards of living and profit margins in businesses were improved.

Concerning the objectives and goals of the two periods, each era outlined different approaches to achieve economic balance in the Progressive Era and recover from Depression in the New Deal. During the Progressive Era, the activists focused on addressing corruption, which existed in political organizations and investigating problems associated with industrialization, such as exploitation by monopoly companies. Progressivism was based on goals, such as attaining economic balance by distributing wealth to other entrepreneurs and protection of social welfare, especially in women suffrage, which guided the forerunners. (Tyrrell, Nichols & Unger 2017). Another goal was to fight for economic efficiency where fair taxation techniques were proposed. The taxation techniques would involve changes in levying income taxes, which were to be imposed on all working citizens and at proportional rates.

On the contrary, the New Deal era consisted of three goals towards the regeneration of the economy. First, relief for the needy was to be accomplished through availing employment to people. Programs, such as Civilian Conservation Corp, were developed to create employment for all citizens towards uplifting their standards of living (Smith, 2014). Secondly, efforts were to be made towards economic recovery from the previous Great Depression through enacting laws for improving infrastructure and industrialization. Lastly, financial reforms on the economy were proposed, which would be achieved through implementing fiscal policies by availing funds required to stimulate economic growth. President Franklin Roosevelt introduced social security and unemployment benefits as an attempt to reduce the consequences of the Great Depression.

Comparing the two American periods, Progressive Era included efforts to reform public education, medicine, finance, industries, history, and political science. Scientific approaches were integrated into academic fields and social sciences first at local stages, then proceeded to state and national levels. The American economy performed well, although capitalist markets were biased as large corporations received funding and enjoyed economies of scale. On the contrary, the New Deal period was based on responding to an economy, which was suffering from declined performance immediately after the Great Depression (Smith, 2014). President Franklin Roosevelt embarked on programs solely aimed at raising the economy through programs, which involved the recovery of industries and the creation of employment. The programs helped the people to improve their standards of living, which had been negatively affected during the Great Depression. All the legislation processes were to revitalize the American economy from the effects of the previous Depression.

Additionally, the Progressive era sought to explore new adventures in the economy while the New Deal aimed at the creation of jobs for the citizens. The Progressives wanted to eliminate existing industrial monopolies to create other trade opportunities for investors (Brinkley, Giggie & Huebner, 2016). Concerns were raised over unfair business practices and anti-competitive behavior, which hindered progress in the US economy. The activism for social justice, especially women suffrage and wealth disparities, intensified during the Progressive era. In contrast, the New Deal era engaged national authorities to improve the economy as a whole by creating employment and improving infrastructure. Programs enacted during this period solely focused on revitalizing the economy rather than identifying new adventures (Smith, 2014). The Federal government was concerned with alleviating the adverse effects of economic recession, which affected business operations and standards of living among the people.

Concerning the changes in American society, at the end of the Progressive Era, reforms were made mostly, which resulted in the elimination of corruption among political leaders and the government systems. Also, women were granted the right to vote and run for political positions according to the 19^th amendment (Brinkley, Giggie & Huebner, 2016). Changes in the business sector involved the passing of antitrust laws, which inhibited trusts into merging and forming monopolies. These changes benefited the society as fair competition in business was established, transparency in governments assured, and women suffrage laws were passed. However, African Americans were still discriminated against in society and suffered from economic limitations. On the other hand, the New Deal made advancements to partially alleviate the consequences of the Great Depression (Smith, 2014). Welfare programs and Social Security Act were developed during the era, which positively impacted American society. The government was given the mandate to protect vulnerable groups, such as workers and farmers, to secure citizen’s affairs; for instance, during economic recession periods.

Furthermore, national leaders who contributed to the changes in the Progressive Era included President Theodore Roosevelt, Robert LaFollette, Evans Hughes, and Woodrow Wilson. President Theodore Roosevelt led the other Republicans to ensure citizens’ fairness, promote domestic policies, and breaking of trust mergers. Robert LaFollette advocated for changes in tax collection techniques and was actively engaged in activism for political reforms in American democracy (Cowie, 2017). Also, Evans Hughes supported labor laws, which would ensure equality in the treatment of all workers in the country. Besides, Woodrow Wilson advanced propositions towards trade regulations to eliminate monopoly in the country. In the New Deal era, President Roosevelt led the programs, which placed most citizens to work and reform economic growth form the previous Great Depression (Brinkley, Giggie & Huebner, 2016). Finally, John Maynard Keynes proposed fiscal policy to boost government spending as a way of revitalizing the economy.

In conclusion, the Progressivism Era (1900 to 1920) and the New Deal (1933 to 1941) were distinct American periods, which occurred at different times of the economy. The Progressivism Era involved deliberate efforts to eliminate corruption in the systems of the national government. Also, social activists in the Progressive Era proposed changes in the legislation to promote fair competition in businesses and enhance social justice. President Theodore Roosevelt led other activists to reform administration and eliminate mergers, which led to monopolies. On the other hand, the New Deal era occurred immediately after the American economy underwent the Great Depression. President Franklin Roosevelt implemented legislation, which enabled citizens to secure employment towards improving infrastructure to revive the economy. Finally, the era was characterized by economic relief, recovery, and making reforms in the government to enable prosperity in the country.

Bibliography

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Brinkley, A., Giggie, J. M., & Huebner, A. (2016). The unfinished nation: A concise history of the American people.

This book expounds on the Unites States history, focusing on the economic and social developments since the reconstruction era. This material illustrates the changes in the United States’ policies on economic and political advancements. Most importantly, this material will help in obtaining information on the New Deal Era.

Cowie, J. (2017). The Great Exception: The New Deal and the Limits of American Politics (Vol.           120). Princeton University Press.

This book addresses the contribution of the New Deal in American history and society. The development of equality in the US is explained and the changes that led to equal distribution of resources. This resource will assist me in analyzing the contribution of the New Deal in the lives of American citizens.

Allerfeldt, K. (Ed.). (2017). The Progressive Era in the USA: 1890–1921. Routledge.

The book explores the periods in American history and their contribution to society. Controversies associated with historical eras are investigated, and the views of various historians and scholars taken into account. The legacy of American eras to world history is established. This material will help in determining the opinions of various scholars and obtain truthful information on the Progressive Era.

Tyrrell, I., Nichols, C. M., & Unger, N. C. (2017). Connections, Networks, and the Beginnings of a Global America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. A Companion to the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, 381.

This book contains the historiographic essays between 1877- 1920. The material describes in detail the advancement of the American democracy and political system, which was recognized globally. Information from this material will assist in analyzing the reforms in the American political system and their contribution to the changes in the Progressive Era.

Smith, J. S. (2014). A Concise History of the New Deal. Cambridge University Press.

The book covers the economic dynamics, which influenced the performance of the American nation. It gathers historical data on the economy of the country and the changes involved in the production and consumption of products. Technological effects on economic performance are discussed, which will assist in deriving the economic effects of the policymaking during the New Deal and Progressive Era.