Southern progressives differed from that of northern progressives in some aspects. Southern progressives concentrated on upholding their traditional values and reforming the poor whites while teaching them to respect racial hierarchy.2 The diversity of the city of Columbia, South Carolina residents provides great insight as to how progressivism affected different groups of people in the South. Women everywhere were fighting for progressive rights toward equality, education, and public health. Women were socially and legally inferior to men but still wanted to play their part in the progression of these issues. More women were receiving educations and began to get involved in community and national organizations which brought these women together to fight for their beliefs on human reform.
World War Two required women in the munitions factories and as land girls which due to the shortage of men gave, women a definite place in the working environment, and the argument of women being incapable was now of no consequence. Another huge landmark in feminism was the abolition of the property law that stated that women could not own property; all property would be their husband's or father's. Previous to this in the 60s the birth control pill helped liberate women by giving them highly effective control over their own fertility. As the 60s progressed, the women's liberation movement gained momentum. Later in the 60s the sex discrimination act was put in place, making it illegal to discriminate against someone on the grounds of their gender.
Women like Emma Hart Willard who founded the Troy Female Seminary in New York which was the first endowed school for girls, helped empower women to see that there can be change. Women began speaking and lecturing in the 1830s on equality and right to vote. Sarah Grimke and Frances Wright advocated women's suffrage in an extensive series of lectures. Sarah Grimke spoke with a concise confidence responding to a newspaper, “All I ask of our brethren is that they will take their feet from our necks, and permit us to stand upright on the ground which God has designed us to occupy.” (Chafe 25) “[Also Grimke wrote that] like blacks women were ‘accused of mental inferiority’ and were refused the opportunity for a decent education. Denied the basic rights of free speech and petition, they were also treated as creatures not able to care for themselves.” (Chafe 45) Oberlin College became the first coeducational college in
Progressive Movement The Progressive Movement was an effort to cure many of the ills of American society that had developed during the rapid industrial growth in the last quarter of the 19th century. As Americans became increasingly aware of the need for reform, attitudes toward the proper role of government shifted from the limited role preferred in the 19th century to the increasingly expanded role chosen in the 20th century. During the era of progressive reform new groups and movements emerged that were successful in bringing about effective changes. Muckrakers drew attention to the need of reform by highlighting great injustices in their writings and woman played a major role addressing poor working conditions, child education, and woman’s suffrage. The success of progressivism owed much to publicity generated by the muckrakers.
Progressivism in America Jane Dang Elkwood High School Industrialization and urbanization led to the progressive movement in America. Progressives were concerned with a variety of social issues, such as women’s suffrage and temperance. They made many reforms to try to improve society. In 1914 World War I began and American society was heavily affected. The late 1800s and early 1900s brought major political, social, economic, technological and cultural developments to America.
The early twentieth century was an era of business expansion and progressive reform in the United States. The Progressive era was a time of immense change in America and American society. The progressives, as they called themselves, struggled to improve American society by working toward equality. Progressives shared optimism about American citizens’ ability to improve social conditions, by actively intervening, both politically and morally, and ensure social justice. During an age of mass industrialization and urbanization, obtaining social justice was of vital importance because with social justice established, social control would naturally be achieved due to the satisfaction of citizens being treated equally.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for women to have legal rights, have better jobs, and higher education, even though many men shunned her. First off, many women fought against the laws that discriminated against them. In 1848, Stanton met with four other women for a social meeting. They decided to form a convention and get together to “discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women (Brown).” This convention was called The Seneca Falls Convention. The women campaigned for full female equality.
A “Perfect” Society For decades freedom and equality have always had a value of great importance in American society. Individuals have lost their lives fighting for their right to have their freedom and trying to create equality among mistreated people in society. Martin Luther King Jr. spent many years of his life fighting for the rights of African Americans. Late president Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 during the time of the American Civil War to free the slaves. Susan B. Anthony took part in the women’s suffrage movement to help gain rights for women.
Critical Evaluation Essay: Now We Can Begin Women fought for years for the right to be seen as an equal with men as well as working to change laws in America that would give them equal rights to men. Women campaigned for many years in order to push their ideas through to congress and to get the public to see what they were working so hard to gain. They would use words like inequality and inferior to catch the public’s attention. Eastman wrote in her article, “Now We Can Begin” about the struggles that women faced once women’s rights were passed under the 19th Amendment of the Constitution. Eastman makes it clear to her readers, that no matter the stance a woman takes on the women’s rights movement, a true feminist will always fight for what she believes in with courage and strength.
What is Progressivism? Progressivism is the term applied to a variety of responses to the economic and social problems rapid industrialization introduced to America. Progressivism began as a social movement and grew into a political movement. The early progressives rejected Social Darwinism. In other words, they were people who believed that the problems society faced (poverty, violence, greed, racism, class warfare) could best be addressed by providing good education, a safe environment, and an efficient workplace.