| | The late 1890s and early 1900s saw a great deal of change in modern society. Arguably some of the biggest changes came to urban and State level reform. American industries attracted millions of immigrant workers but also forced such rapid growth in major cities that basic services were unable to keep pace (Barnes-Bowles 2015). The influx of different cultures that were brought to the United States raised questions of the morality in major cities, thus the Progressive reform began. Two areas of focus for reformers were alcohol and prostitution. Many attributed the rise in alcohol consumption in the 1900s to the moral depravity of urban society and cultures that incorporated beer and liquor consumption. (Barnes-Bowles 2015). At first they had little effect, until 1918 when the 18th Amendment band liquor (Barnes-Bowles 2015). Prostitution was another target for progressivism. Largely seen as one of the oldest known professions, some identified a link between low wages for women workers and prostitution. Young women could not survive on the wages they earned in any industry thus turned to becoming prostitutes. In 1910 the Mann Act made it a federal crime to transport women across state lines for any immoral purpose (Barnes-Bowles 2015). Through years of social reform, progressives managed to curb some problems facing American society. Although the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol was outlawed it only lasted 13 years until it was repealed by the 21 amendment. Many progressives saw American foreign policy as un American. In 1899 it was decried the forcible subjugation of any nation or people as a violation of American democratic principles (Barnes-Bowles 2015). One way progressive reform differs from imperialism is the way other culture are seen. A global racism spread thru imperialism. Darker skinned inhabitants were seen as inferior to whites, thus colonization of these peoples was justified as they were until to survive (Barnes-Bowles 2015).The progressive mind set in American thought that thru education they could help improve their society. |
