America in All of its Glory: 1920-1940
American history has seen many troubled and exciting times. Though, none were more
troubling and exciting than the period between 1920 to 1940. America saw many economic and
political changes during this time. Progressivism, Feminism, the automobile industry, The Great
Depression, and the roaring twenties helped shape what made the presidency for Theodore
Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson during the period between 1920 to 1940.
To begin, progressivism was first seen in the early 20th century as a response to the
growing modernization of that society. “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” (Teaching Eleanor Roosevelt). Progressives believed that the government
could be used as a tool for change. They believed that corporate greed was all around and as
college educated citizens they wanted to use the government as an advantage for Americans.
Additionally, Progressives hoped to make American governments more efficient and to
better serve the people. Progressives argued that it would better serve the American people if
highly trained professional administrators who were elected to council to run the cities were
placed in positions of power in local office. For too long many of these positions were held by
individuals who were not qualified, but were placed there by wealthy politicians who appointed
their friends and family to these roles. Ulysses Grant was one of the Presidents in our nation’s
history who ran a corrupt government.
As an individual, Grant himself proved to be vindictive, petty, politically inept,
and a poor judge of character. His administration was enormously corrupt, and
riddled with cronyism. At the same time, the national “philosophy” of rugged
individualism militated against provision of much essential post-war aid, and
business tycoons aggressively promoted Social Darwinism, a dog-eat-dog
ideology that seemed to provide justification for their own unethical practices.
(Progressive Living)
Additionally, one of the biggest issues of this time period were the laborer issues. Many
of problems faced by the working middle class were that they were being worked to the bone and
being paid a measly wage to do it.
America never could have risen to its preeminent place in the world of industrial
nations without the backbreaking toil of its workers in the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries. Laborers were behind the railroads that stretched across over
3,000 miles of the continent, the steel rails that provided the tracks, the
skyscrapers that dominated the city skylines, the textiles that clothed the Western
world and the coal and oil that fueled a transportation revolution. They toiled in
the steel mills of Braddock and Homestead, the textile factories of the South, the
coal mines of Allegheny County, and among the oil derricks of northwestern
Pennsylvania. (Labor in Progressive Era Politics)
Many of the employees of this time were working 84 to 96 hours a week and making upwards 10
cents an hour. It was considered a good month for an individual if they came home with 25
dollars for that month. “At the turn of the century, the average income of the American worker
was $400 to $500 a year—below the $600 figure that many believed was the minimum required
to maintain a reasonable level of comfort” (Labor in Progressive Era Politics). The standard
wage that they were earning was barely enough for a two people household, and those two
people had to settle on living a very common and simple life. “Workers in the early twentieth
century paid about $5 a month in rent and their wives ran boarding houses, did laundry, and
performed seamstress duties in order to earn the extra income that might help make ends meet. If
the workers had daughters, they began working in childcare or other odd jobs before the age of
fifteen to help the family survive. Boys as young as twelve got jobs crawling into newly blasted
areas in the coal mines to scoop up loose chunks of coal. Other young boys adjusted spindles on
the large textile machines of southern factories, where their mothers often also worked” (Labor
in Progressive Era Politics). Many children were not able to go to school because their families
needed them to help out financially. Child labor laws were not in place during this time to help
make sure children were taken care of.
Furthermore, if an employee was hurt on the job there was nothing in place at the time
that would help support that employee and his/her family while they were healing.
Exhausted workers could not afford to make any mistakes, as the intensely hot
steel furnaces and the potentially unstable mines constantly threatened injury or
death. Even still, some accidents proved beyond human control; in these cases, a
company might make a $75 contribution toward funeral expenses; families had to
rely upon worker’s associations and unions for the rest. Widows and orphaned
children were left to their own devices for survival. Retirement was a pipe dream
for most Americans; pension plans and social security did not come into
widespread existence until the Great Depression. (Labor in Progressive Era
Politics)
Also, the Progressive era was a big time for women. Since most families could not
survive only on the income of just the male bread winner, many women had to join the work
force in order for their family to make ends meet.
For the most part, middle-class white married women still did not work outside
the home. Women workers were primarily young and single, or widows,
divorcees, poor married women, and/or women of color. In addition, most women
continued to work in agriculture, in factories, and as domestic servants. African
American women, in particular, worked as domestic servants in large numbers.
However, new jobs were opening up for some women as well. Many women
began to find employment in department stores. Middle-class women were able to
find jobs as clerical workers (typists, clerks, and telephone operators). Finally,
