becoming a world powerIn this unit we'll be looking at how the United States and her people reacted to the rapid growth and development that led to the Gilded Age. The Progressive movement was the reaction to these sweeping changes. Progressives were generally interested in the urban issues surrounding the nations mega-cities. As such they worked closely with labor unions to target issues of workplace safety as well as city reforms such as housing and sanitation. And at the same time they tried to reform elections in order to break the power of the political machines and start to clean up government. The progressive reform was mostly targeted at states and cities, with few reforms reaching a national level.
However, the progressive movement will start to take a back seat as worldwide issues start to dominate time and attention. As the United States starts to become more involved in international politics and even makes overtures towards becoming an imperial power, our sites are turned outward more than on domestic problems. Also, with the outbreak of World War One in 1914, the US will become increasingly wrapped up in these international affairs. By the end of the war the United States will rise to a recognized world power. |
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