Progressivism to Hard Times: Introduction
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the large-scale industrial growth in the United States aided in the country’s ability to secure a place as one of the most powerful nations in the world. During the early 1900s the United States experienced a surge in consumerism as well as a conflicted moral climate. Many felt that industrialization and urbanization had created problems that could only be fixed by greater government regulation and control.
Using the power of the media and group mobilization, people began to challenge capitalistic doctrines and the social Darwinist theory that appeared to be widening the gap between the rich and the poor, and discouraged women from choosing non-traditional roles. This period in time, from about 1890 to 1920, was known as the Progressive Era. It ended during the economic stimulation that occurred after World War I. This boom time did not last, however, and ended in an economic bust, but the role that government played in social order was constant.