Women in Progressive Era - Assignment Example

Women in Progressive Era Introduction The progressive era refers to a time when many American tried to improve their society. They tried to make government honest, transparent and more democratic. It was from 1890s to 1920s.The rise of such an era was to solve the social problems that arose as united state became an urban and industrialized nation. It involved a party of reaction against unjust economic and its emphasis on unregulated market in America. Although history focuses on male figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, in many ways women were the driving force behind progressive reform. The effort of women during this era, significantly impacted the lives of countless Americans today. At the end of 19th century women were considered the moral guardians and the protector of the home. During the progressive era, female reformers used ideology that in order to fully protect the home, females should shift to the public scope where they could practice their ethical power over matters such as public hygiene and education which eventually had huge impacts on the homes (Schneide & Schneider 106). Before having the right to vote the women participated in the political arena by joining volunteering organizations to work for reforms in the country. Efforts began to develop at the grassroots level and extended to the state and national level. These women carried out research, executed program, and pushed for the legislature to look into social, political, and economic problem. Middle class club women and settlement workers were to organize and address issues concerning education, healthcare, and political corruption while working women got organized in their own and in partnership with middle class women to raise welfare wages and improve working conditions in America. African American women were in organization to fight racism and provide mutual support. The status of women was beginning to change rapidly in this era, for most part middle class white married women thou they still did not work outside their home. Working women were primarily young and single, widow or divorcees or poor married woman. Most women continued working in agriculture as domestic servants especially the African American women. However, new jobs were opening up and most women began to seek for occupations in department stores. Mid-class women were able to find jobs as clerical workers i.e. typist, clerk, telephone operator, and a few excelled as lawyers, doctors, journalists, and scientist (Schneide & Schneider 146). In the 1930s some reformed women in the era were already in government representing the children and the women bureau in the labor department. The reformed women also began to redefine the role of the federal government in overseeing issues of education, social welfare, sanitation, and health wages of this women. A number of women who had been watching the women’s reform movement for a long time were introduced into the federal government, for the foremost time by Franklin .D. Roosevelt. In the making, these women reformers were contributory in suggesting and instigating Roosevelt new deal legislation, much of which embedded many of the reforms developed and fought for by the women reformers found by a link between the progressive era and the so called new deal. Women reformers in the progressive era were successful in refining the lives of uncountable Americans and in intensifying the central roles of women in the economy, culture and political life of America (Frankel & Schrom 39). Reformers assisted them penetrate into new and bold political trails and life choices. In the early 1800s, women were second class people; women were expected to limit their scope of interest to their homes and families. They were not fortified to get a real training or pursue a professional career. Following one’s marriage, women were not given the mandate the to possess their property, keep their own wages, or sign a contract and in addition, they were deprived of the right to vote, solely after intense political campaigning did women eventually win the right to vote. Gaining the vote for American woman known as suffrage was the best achievement of democratic right in American history. The first women’s right convection was held in Seneca Falls, in the New York City, in 1848, headed by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who persuaded the representatives that their first priority must be nothing else but the right to vote. Decades after that delegation the right to vote had not yet been granted. The women suffrage movement got off to a slow start. Some people threatened women suffragist and said they were unfeminine and immoral. During that period the African American were granted citizenship and African American men were given voting rights in the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. Leaders of the women suffrage movement wanted these amendments to give women the right to vote, as well. They were disappointed when republicans refused. This led to a debate that split the suffrage movement into two groups. This split weakened the movement (Schneide & Schneider 150). Here are the key events that took place between 1848 to 1920 from the women’s rights convection in Seneca Falls, New York, The formation of National American Women Suffrage Association, and the passage of the 19th amendment to the constitution giving women right to vote in the republic of America. After the first women’s right agreement held in Seneca Falls, New York as well as after two day of discussion and debating, they signed a declaration of sentiment which outlined grievances and set the agenda of women right movement. The main agenda was to call for the same treatment of women and men as documented by the law and elective rights for women. Then in 1850, the first National Women Rights convention took place at Worcester attracting more than one thousand participants. In May 1869 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her counterpart Susan .B. Anthony came together to form the National Women Suffrage Association with the main objective of the group to attain voting rights for women by congressional amendment to the constitution (Frankel & Schrom 91). In that same year on the month of December 10th, the land of Wyoming voted in the first women’s suffrage rule and gave women full voting rights. Other areas that did the same were Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. And finally in 1920 the 19th amendment was signed into law enabling women the right to vote. This was considered to be so important to American women because if they were going to get reforms they supported enacted they had to vote in America. Women were willing to do various things to gain the rights to vote, for example they found the women suffrage movement even after being criticized for not being real women and called names like “the new woman”. The women representative that is Susan .B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton merge their association to form National American Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and its main goal was to obtain voting right for women. They were also willing to travel from state to state campaigning for women voting rights. In 1872 when Susan .B. Anthony voted illegitimately in the presidential vote in Rochester, New York claiming the fourteenth amendment gave her the right to vote; she was arrested and found guilty but even after that she still fought and campaigned for women’s right to vote (Frankel & Schrom 80). The progressive era apart from giving women voting right, it also promoted economic growth and fortune. The incomes of the employed people improved together with those of middle class and richer Americans. The progressives as they were called toiled to make America a healthier and safer residence and also ensured government enacted rules and regulation of various kinds that made big business more responsible. In conclusion, 1920s saw a decline of many reforms that had been so wide spread after 1900, these was done by women organization that worked on behalf of numerous social and reform matters of concern. Work Cited Read More