The Progressive Era was a period between the 1890s and 1920s where the nation became determined to solve the problems of urban industrial capitalist societies. These problems were caused by immigration, political corruption, industrialization, and urbanization. Social activism and political reform began to spread across the United States in various ways. “The voice of Jane Addams and countless others who were determined to solve the problems of urban industrial capitalist society might now be heard in the highest corridors. Chicago remained at the center of this progress” (Pacyga, Chicago, 150). Chicago is second largest city in the nation at this time, and also one of the most congested and culturally diverse so it is no wonder that Chicago’s progressive action helped set the tone for a bigger, national movement. Chicagoans advocated for workers’ rights, conservation of green space, housing for the poor, and the elimination of political corruption. However, this period also experienced a dark side of discriminatory politics and varying attitudes towards contradictory concerns such as race, liquor, immigration, gambling, and poverty.
The progressive reform in Chicago might be called a success because of the movement targeting politicians. By removing corrupt politicians from office, actual democracy could be established. The 1883 Civil Service Reform Act placed most federal employees on the merit system and marked the end of the so-called “spoils system,” permitting the professionalization and rationalization of the federal administration. However, local and municipal government remained in the hands of often-corrupt politicians, political machines, and their local “bosses.” Although Chicagoans advocated for a political system free from corruption, actually making that happen proved to be difficult and was not entirely possible. However, politicians did see some value in progressive changes and often supported them. Advancements such as city planning, housing, working conditions, construction of green spaces, reform of the court system, advanced education, and other policies that helped make Chicago a better place to live (McCormick, Lecture).
Chicago also saw success by regulation of monopolies and corporations through antitrust laws and other labor laws. At the start of the century, trends towards monopoly continued and the labor conflict was becoming even more of a problem. U.S. Steel, created from the merging of Carnegie and Morgan steel interests in 1901 produced another huge monopoly with hostile attitudes towards labor (Pacyga, Chicago, 150). Antitrust laws were created to promote equal competition for the advantage of legitimate competitors, while Chicago also established workers’ compensation laws and workplace safety regulation. “In 1893, Illinois joined the ranks of the most progressive states with the passage of a child labor law. The new law forbade the employment of children under the age of fourteen and totally prohibited the employment of children in manufacturing” (Pacyga, Chicago, 161). Reformers continued to advocate for restrictions on child labor and workers’ safety.
Another major success of this era was the creation of green spaces for the poor, and general improvement of living conditions. These green spaces symbolized the intent of the progressive era. “[Jane Adams] felt that nature uplifted the individual and that a park would provide a green setting that would give slum dwellers a change to enjoy the beauty of the natural world while having a place to sit quietly and think” (Pacyga, Chicago, 167). Reformers also established immigrant districts and settlement houses. Religious institutions also developed similar programs in places of worship. However, housing for the poor remained a major problem for the city. “While paved streets, cement sidewalks, the elimination of the privy, and later the outhouse, with the construction of an effective swear system provided some hope, immigrant districts remained overcrowded and often stalked by disease (Pacyga, Chicago, 178-179).
Although Progressivism brought greater proficiency to government, established a more equal playing field for business, and increased the political power of ordinary citizens, the biggest failure of the Progressive Era was its exclusive nature. The Progressive Era overlapped with the Jim Crow era, which saw intense segregation and discrimination of African Americans.
Studies sponsored by The Committee of Fifteen, established by anti-vice leadership, erroneously concluded that most prostitutes were African American, leading to police persecution of young black women during the 1920s. “The Chicago Vice Commission also led to a 1913 Illinois Vice Commission, which forcefully concluded that poverty was a principal cause of prostitution and that businesses had a responsibility to pay a living wage” (Vice Commissions, Encyclopedia of Chicago).
