The Progresive Reform Movement Essay examples - 945 Words

The Progressive Reform Movement played an instrumental role in uplifting American society to new heights. The movement was fairly successful in curing the ills brought on by the massive industrial growth of the late 19th century. Rich executives who had created monopolies and trusts were deemed to have become too powerful, and political imbalances were ruled to be unacceptable. Progressive reform was a cornerstone of the early 1900s and was the issue that defined several presidencies. The Progressive Movement was a result of a century of economic and social neglect. It strived to correct the economic, social, political, and moral justices that had plagued the 19th century and to instill fairness and equal rights for all. Two key goals†¦show more content†¦This modification of the Constitution gave women the right to vote, and effectively created a whole new slant on politics. Corrupt governments began to falter because of the new voting bloc and political party hierarchies began to crumble. The Progressive Movement not only revolution the political landscape of America, but also molded a brand new economic infrastructure. Prior to the movement, the US government enacted a policy of laissez-faire towards the economy. From the early 1800s till the panics of 1893 and 1907 the economy boomed. Politicians were skeptical of pushing reform because they feared that public opinion favored less regulation. However, by the turn of the century this began to change. Due to the Panics of 1893 and 1907 Americans began to demand change. The rise of a more liberal middle class began to change the political outlook of the early 1900s. These people favored fairness in the workplace and more regulation. Two key actions taken by the government to support these goals included the creation of the Federal Reserve and the Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Reserve Board became the central banking system of America. First, it removed the lack of elasticity in the American c urrency. It also prevented privately-run banks from exploiting the currency or banding together in order to drive up premiums and fees. The Federal Reserve was effective in driving down economic corruption and regulating the economy. The Federal Trade