American Progressive Movement Essay

The Middle Class, Man
The progressive movement was a middle class initiated motion because the middle class had and gained a majority of influence over the economy. The middle class also made social changes, such as the Jim Crow Laws, which helped protect the efficiency of the economy for the white middle class. The government had to support this movement because of the benefits that the movement would provide to the economy. Jim Crow laws were originally intended to make equal conditions in a segregated society. These segregated places were supposed to be separate but equal, as per a ruling by the Supreme Court in the case of Plessy vs. Ferguson, however, often times the Colored designated areas were inferior to the White designated areas. This discrimination would lead to disadvantages in economic, political, and educational aspects of life for African Americans. Because of the disadvantages placed upon them, African-Americans were then often denied the right to vote because of literacy tests or poll fees. Because they were denied the ballot, their interests often went untouched. This inequality between White Americans and African-Americans allowed the White middle class to become more influential and stronger in politics as well as the work force.
Muckrakers were journalists who exposed social and economic problem. Often these journalists focused on the social equality, or rather inequality, and efficiency in government. Muckrakers exposed certain ideas that moved the majority of the middle class, but also influential people. Theodore Roosevelt read “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair, an expose on the meat packing industry, which led to the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act. These Acts provided a majority of health and safety benefits to the United States. Also, because of the acts, workers conditions were unintentionally improved because of more careful inspection and handling of meat. The articles published by the Muckrakers influenced the middle class by exposing the corruption in big business and calling for a correction of these faults.

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