Why Did Progressive Reformers Believe It Essential to Curb the Power of American Capitalism - Essay Example

Why did Progressive reformers believe it essential to curb the power of American capitalism? Were they right? Introduction The rise of Progressive Reformers during the onset of 20Th century as the state was preparing itself for WW1 significantly brought changes in American’s economical, political and social sectors. Reformers comprised of both women and men emanating from various social classes, occupations as well as races who felt regime’s traditional attitudes were inapplicable comparable to harsh conditions, which Americans during then experienced on daily basis. This was contrary to what the then government, which through the constitution claimed to offer its citizens. During then, Americans were not only experiencing poverty due to permanent wage limit policies but also majority working in extremely deplorable conditions coupled with child labor. Therefore, social, economical and political inequalities convinced Progressive Reformers into believing their quest in curbing American capitalism was right, which I also concur with due to the then inapplicable policies whose aim encompassed protecting only the well-heeled people. Reformers in their quest to ensure welfare of the entire public, “revolted” to end inefficiencies in the central regime, corrupt political machines and improving people’s living standards. This is evident in Des Jardins’ sentiment contending, “….After the Civil War, industrialization, urbanization, and immigration intensified the inequalities between industrialist and worker, white and non-white, man and woman prompting the entire public thinking the government of the day ought to be an instrument of change ” (Jardins)”. Therefore, reformers in their mission to win besides effect significant reforms they had no alternative but to compel the then regime into yielding to its citizens’ demands. This is because central government was at a better position to encourage good policies as well as refuting others that were not benefiting the entire public but only used by few people to enrich themselves. According to lecture notes, “…The Progressive Reformers believed it was necessary to curb the power of America’s economic and political system from big business owners because they believed that the government should be made up of the working-class people (Lecture notes, 7 October 2013).” Since, this will ensure equality in the entire state besides preventing the affluent from exploiting less privileged people, which is contrary to what they did before inception of new rules through influencing economic policies in their favor. Industrial moguls due to the regime’s laxity and numerous benefits, which they enjoyed while in their quest to augment respective profitability rates, resulted to processing poor quality products to the then unsuspecting consumers. Hence, plants exposing lives of numerous unsuspecting citizens to risks especially food industry, which supplied low quality, canned meat. This is evident in Sinclair’s book citing how plants processing meat, “…..it was the custom, as they found, whenever meat was so spoiled that it could not be used for anything else, either to can it or else to chop it up into sausage” (Sinclair 164). Consequently, revealing utter state of inhuman on the part of industrial moguls who employed chemistry tactics to process meat that had decayed. This was by rubbing meat with soda to eliminate bad odor and sell it to free lunch counters where ordinary citizens used to frequent (Sinclair 164). Consequently, this prompted to the institution of“….The Meat Inspection Act strengthened requirements for sanitary conditions in packing houses and required the inspection of meat for interstate commerce (Mooney, 71)”. The aim of this act ensured the quality of meat supplied to the consumer was of good condition besides meeting the already set standards outlined by regime. Reformers felt the state during then had to be free from any sinister influences whereby their ambitions aimed at undermining the public. This is evident in Roosevelt’s sentiments stating, “every special interest is entitled to justice - full, fair, and complete - and, now, mind you, if there were any attempt by mob-violence to plunder and work harm to the special interest, whatever it may be, that I most dislike, and the wealthy man, whomsoever he may be, for whom I have the greatest contempt, I would fight for him, and you would if you were worth your salt (Roosevelt, “New Nationalism Speech”)”. Consequently, this yielded to both significant and notable reforms whose core purpose encompassed safeguarding public’s welfare besides regaining their dignity, which the affluent had already despised using their influential status. According to lecture notes, “Some of Roosevelt’s most notable action were taking action against trust/ big business, coal miner compromise, dissolved the Northern Securities, and labor and food awareness-Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act (Lecture notes, 9 October 2013)”. Mainly, ensuring big businesses did not continue using their influences in benefiting themselves at the expense of the middle class people who comprised the majority. In addition, progressives due to the then prevailing mergers were not happy with how corporations cunningly combined their efforts with the intention of undermining people’s potential. As Mooney expounds, “…..A wave of mergers around the turn of the century that folded 4,227 separate firms into 257 massive companies, transforming 70 majors industries into monopolies or near monopolies, highlighted fears that individual opportunity was being undermined (Mooney, 64). Mergers during then availed big Corporations a heightened and favorable base such that emergent players in the market were unable to equal them, hence eliminate competition. Combining of Corporations ensured only industrial moguls like Andrew Carnegie due to their strengthened force benefited immensely besides coming up with effective policies supposed to cover the entire state. Hence, monopolizing respective sectors, which each merger specialized without experiencing of operating under the fear of any foreseeable future competition. However, this trend did not persist for long before Wilson “…..signed bills that created the Federal Reserve and progressive income tax rates, secured humane working conditions for merchant seamen and railroad worker, restricted child labor” besides reducing power excesses of some big corporations (Kazin). This move utterly disrupted big mergers’ aspirations because what they thought was far from realization. Since, the government shunned child labor besides incurring more expenses in ensuring workers were not operating in deplorable conditions. Conclusion Progressives in their quest to end social, economical and political inefficiencies that characterized the onset of 20Th century, they embarked on refuting the then selfish policies. Since, these policies were only favoring the rich while undermining potential of the common people. This entailed curbing the then American capitalism by devising new favorable policies for each individual and eliminating those, which were archaic based on the public’s common ambitions. Mainly, this was especially in the industrial sector whereby some plants processed products while using poor materials, for instance, meat. Work Cited Des Jardins, Julie. The Politics of Reform. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. 2009-2013. Web. 12Th October 2013. Mooney, Mathew. History 102 - Mooney: Fall 2013 Course Reader: History of the U.S. Since 1865, Kindle Edition. Amazon Digital Services, Inc. 2013. Internet source. Roosevelt, Theodore. “New Nationalism Speech”. TeachingAmericanHistory.org. Osawatomie, Kansas. 31St August 1910. Keynote Speech. Sinclair, Upton. The Jungle. United States: Filiquarian Pub, 2008. Print. Kazin, Michael. The Forgotten President: Woodrow Wilson was as important as FDR or LBJ. Why aren't we celebrating his 100th anniversary? New Republic. 4Th June 2013. Web. 12Th October 2013. < http://www.newrepublic.com/article/113365/woodrow-wilson- liberal-president-most-similar-obama> Lecture notes. 7Th October 2013. Lecture notes. 9Th October 2013. Read More