Progressive Movement In The 1800s

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Imagine a dark and crowded factory, soaring high above New York’s streets, a world away from what America lives today. A factory where debris floats freely, fills lungs, and chokes spirits. A factory that works immigrants to death with unsafe conditions, unfair pay, and a constantly uncertain job. A factory that can give a someone with nothing a chance at riches in the “Golden Land” or take everything away (Drehle 91). From the oppressive gloom of American industrialization grew a movement, one that gave those without voices a cause and something to fight for, progressivism. In the late 1800’s America dove into industrialization head-first. The population spike and rapid growth called for factories in order to keep up with consumer demand. …show more content…
They came in all forms, from the upper-class ladies of society to the poor workers of the garment district, but they were all driven toward reform by the worker’s troubles. Progressivism was around long before the fire at Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, but the tragedy of the fire and the events preceding it struck a nerve with the public and gave the reform movement a voice. Most progressivists were people who retainer their faith in the American system but found it to be outdated. They believed that capitalism needed regulation and that the democratic political system needed reform but not necessarily radical change, they followed the path of “evolution not revolution,” as characterized by a newspaper editor in 1912 (Hewitt, Lawson 593). In New York, the progressive movement was a conglomeration of social classes. There were upper class white women like Anne Morgan and Alva Belmont who saw the pain of those who were overlooked in capitalism. There were also middle class supporters, mostly women who were educated and professionally trained but locked out of jobs because of a male dominated workforce. These women often supported change on a smaller scale by staffing settlement houses like the Hull House and helping to give immigrants a chance. Progressivists also came in the form of pastors, businessmen and lawyers, all those who advocated for change. These higher class progressivists were able to take the rage fueled garment strike and turn it into an organized protest with a cause. Women like Anne Morgan jumped at the chance to spread their progressive message and funneled money and resources into the strike to give it body. Although the strikers did not entirely align with the progressive movement, their desire for change allowed them to join together to fight unfair capitalistic practices that preyed upon the worker. Through strong leaders and financial supporters, the strikers were able to organize
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