The Rise and Fall of the American Century - Assignment Example

The social context of the Progressive Movement was characterized by many social ills that prevailed in the US. The ills mainly stemmed from the industrial growth of the 19th century. These ills were stemming from the inequalities of the Industrial Revolution. While great cities, the overseas empire, and enterprises had developed and the US frontiers pacified fully, many citizens remained removed from the wealth, optimism, and wealth that emanated from this development. Therefore, some became richer, while many remained poorer, homeless, underpaid, and therefore feeling like second-rate Americans. It is against this backdrop that intellectual standpoints advanced at the end of the 19th century, in the bid to bring about positive changes.

Resultantly, this intellectual context birthed the First Reform Era which bequeathed US history with abolitionism, Reconstruction, Civil and Women’s Rights Movements, and farm movements. However, starting from the 1880s, the executive arm began to get increasingly powerful, so late on, Roosevelt extended this development. Having insisted that the President had the right to use all political power, the Office of the President became the center of American politics, instead of political parties and Congress. With this increased political power, Roosevelt helped fuel the expansion of the American Empire by challenging the ideas of limited government and waging a highly aggressive foreign policy. 3. Roles Women played In the Reform Movement Being led by strong leaders such as Dorothea Dix and Elizabeth C.

Stanton, women did midwives several important reforms during the Progressive Era. Women clamored for the passage of the 19th Amendment which prohibited the act of denying any US citizen, the power to vote, with this denial of votes being based on sex. It is these same women caucuses that redefined the functions of the federal government and widened the scope of the federal government’s roles, in light of health, working conditions, wages, education, sanitation, and social welfare. 4. The Election of 1912 and the Progressive Reforms of the Wilson Administration The US Election of 1912 remains unique because it enabled Wilson to win by 42%, against Progressive candidates Taft, Roosevelt, and Debs who totaled 58% and thereby enabling Woodrow Wilson to ascend into power.

The same also helped inform Wilson of the need for Progressive reforms in America thereby compelling Wilson to continue with Progressive reforms which he called New Freedom. Wilson's Administration passed and ratified the New Freedom reforms which included Tariff and Business reforms. This reform was unique in that for the first time since the Civil War, tariffs were being lowered, against the wishes of protectionist lobby groups. The Business Reforms also comprised the Federal Trade Act (1914) which helped set up the Federal Trade Commission to facilitate investigations and proscription of illegal business; and the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 which exempted unions from antitrust laws and legalized industrial action.