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The Progressive Era Through the Great Depression

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The Progressive Era Through the Great Depression
Assignment 2
The Progressive Era through the Great Depression

Jessica Archiquette
Instructor: Dr. Stuart Collins
HIS 105
11 November 2012

Like the earthquake ripples, which can be felt hundreds of miles away, events in our American history can have lasting effecting that springs to life yet again a new generation. What one Era or generation leaves behind the next must clean up and attempt to rebuild. An example of this would be the Progressive Era leading into the Great Depression. The Progressive Era wasn’t all bad; however some key events unfortunately lead to what we know today as, The Great Depression. As you read further, I will discuss the key turning points in the Progressive Era, as well as explain its impact on American’s current society. I will also, describe some of the legislation in (Roosevelt-Taft-Wilson) progressive era years that have influenced the conduct of business to this day, as well as explain the role that the Spanish-American War played in America’s development of an empire, and to conclude I will explain the way in which the boom and bust of the “Roaring Twenties” followed by the Great Depression affected the federal government’s involvement in the national economy. The Progressive Era marked the end of the old order and required the creation of a new order appropriate for the new industrial age. Change was required and from the need for change came the progressives. During the years 1890 to 1920 the progressives initiated perhaps the largest and most successful third party, idealistic movement in American history. Despite their efforts and comparative success, the progressives were largely unable to usher in the change required. Overall, industrial conditions remained poor and urban life languished in poverty. Many things were accomplished and became new, all thanks to the Progressive Era. There were so many historical turning points in the period of Progressive Era through the Great Depression. Prohibition, segregation,



References: William L. Anderson. (2006).The Progressive Era, Part 1: The Myth and the Reality. [The Future of Freedom Foundation]. Retrieved from: http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0602d.asp American History Notes: Retrieved from website: http://www.stegen.k12.mo.us/tchrpges/sghs/mruch/TheRoaringTwentiesandGreatDepression.htm Wilma Mankiller, Gwendolyn Mink, Marysa Navarro, Barbara Smith, and Gloria Steinem, eds. (1998). Progressive Era. The Reader 's Companion to U.S.Women 's History. Houghton Mifflin Company. Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com Kevin M. Schultz. (2012) HIST, Volume 2, 2nd Edition (Page 349-367)

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