Industrialization (late1800s to early 1900s)
During the late 1800s and into the early 1900s industrialization swept across America. Factories and mills were built to produce products such as, textiles, furniture and various everyday items. America switched from an agrarian economy into an economy based on manufacturing of goods in factories. This change happened so fast and businesses were booming so much that safety precautions were ignored. Since this was a new way of life, no laws were put in place to protect and maintain safety. Industrialization resulted in myriad adverse effects on American workers, consumers and the environment because corporations and monopolies abused the unprecedented power they had amassed. Since there were no governmental regulations involving safety placed onto businesses, the company owners cut corners to make more money and ignored the safety conditions in their factories. Products being sold were harmful to consumers and some food was not edible. Rapid growth of industries was putting the environment in danger and, most alarmingly, workers were treated so poorly, not paid fairly and their safety was compromised. Lastly, while corporations were becoming rich the rest of the American citizens were living in extreme poverty
Progressive Era (early 1900s to 1920s)
It was evident from the negative affects industrialization caused, that the government needed to become involved in the economy. So, the Progressive Era began and the government increased its involvement in the economy and society to protect the American workers , consumers and environment with regulations and reforms. The Presidents during this time were Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson. They all had the philosophy that the government should be active in American society.They also believed that everyone, not just big businesses, should benefit from the economy. Teddy Roosevelt in his speech, "The Man In The Arena", spoke about how he felt all Americans deserve to reap the benefits of the American economy:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Roosevelt is saying that the average American worker during the Progressive Era worked extremely hard, in fact much harder than the owners of corporations. Although they worked hard, they lived in poverty, but they never gave up and continued to reach for better lives. He believed that because they perservered and worked even under the harshest conditions, they should benefit from the economy the most. Roosevelts' quote reflects the philosophy of all the Presidents in the Progressive Era.
(To learn more in depth about the Progressive Era visit this site: http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/teachinger/glossary/progressive-era.cfm )
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Roosevelt is saying that the average American worker during the Progressive Era worked extremely hard, in fact much harder than the owners of corporations. Although they worked hard, they lived in poverty, but they never gave up and continued to reach for better lives. He believed that because they perservered and worked even under the harshest conditions, they should benefit from the economy the most. Roosevelts' quote reflects the philosophy of all the Presidents in the Progressive Era.
(To learn more in depth about the Progressive Era visit this site: http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/teachinger/glossary/progressive-era.cfm )
Roaring Twenties (1920s)
After all of the change during the Progressive Era, American citizens wanted life to go back to what they considered to be normal. The 1920s produced three conservative Presidents into office. They were Presidents: Harding, Coolidge and Hoover. They believed in a similar philosophy, "Laissez Faire" meaning "leave alone", which correlated to a lack of involvement by in the economics during the 1920s.The Presidents cut back on rules and regulations, leaving big businesses and the economy alone. This lack of involvement couldn't have happened at a worse time. To start off, consumerism was at an all time high. American citizens were buying an unheard of number of goods and products. This was partially due to modern advertising in newspapers and radios, and the availability of installment plans. Installment plans were like modern day credit cards. People were able to buy products and pay later. Americans would pay with money they didn't have to begin with and go into debt. Also, there was a huge income gap between the rich and poor. While the rich increased their income dramatically, the poor saw little to no increase in income. The government should have been involved trying to correct these issues. Since they were not, because of their "Laissez Faire" philosophy, the economy started to rapidly deteriorate. Later, this would lead to the Great Depression. A quote by President Hoover during the economic crisis summerized the conservative philosophy:
" I do not believe that the power and duty of the general government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering... The lesson should be constantly enforced that though the people support the government, the government should not support the people" (Textbook).
Hoover is saying that, although the economy was collapsing, it was the citizen's fault and they should have worked to solve their own problem without the help of the government. He was supporting the "Laissez Faire" philosophy. This greatly reflected the hands-off approach the government took with regards to the American economy during the 1920s.
" I do not believe that the power and duty of the general government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering... The lesson should be constantly enforced that though the people support the government, the government should not support the people" (Textbook).
Hoover is saying that, although the economy was collapsing, it was the citizen's fault and they should have worked to solve their own problem without the help of the government. He was supporting the "Laissez Faire" philosophy. This greatly reflected the hands-off approach the government took with regards to the American economy during the 1920s.
Compare and Contrast
Progressive Era
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Roaring Twenties
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