Various Reforms during the Progressive Era (1890–1920)
Various reforms were implemented during the Progressive Era (1890–1920) to improve the social, economic, and governmental conditions of the populace. The campaign for settlement houses was one of the reforms. It intended to make slum dwellers' lives better by giving them access to education and other fundamental skills. Additionally, it concentrated on giving the immigrants improved housing. Another change that defined the time was the Anti-Prostitution Campaign. The goal of the change was to outlaw prostitution nationwide. The change led to the passage of the Mann Act (1910), which forbade prostitution in all 50 states. Margret Sanger was one of the reformers that advocated for women's rights. She had a hand in the abolition of prostitution in all the states as a way of ensuring the rights of women were protected. Civil rights activists also played a role in ensuring the reform was used across the country. The minorities in the country were on the frontline in ensuring that they have been recognized and given better housing since they were a vulnerable group through the Settlement House Movement. They were mostly immigrants and sought an opportunity to better their lives in the United States.
Opposition to the Reforms
All the progressives did not support the reforms. The Settlement House Movement was not supported by the blacks since they viewed it as discriminative. The blacks were not recognized as a group of minorities that needed efficient housing though they were in dire need. Moreover, Margaret Sanger did not advocate for better housing for the immigrants based on the birth control movement he had established to reduce the number of immigrants that were being born. The progressives did not agree on all the reforms they recommended.
Bibliography
Frankel, Noralee, and Nancy Schrom Dye. 2015. Gender, Class, Race, and Reform in the Progressive Era. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky.
