The Progressive Era’s Shaping and Molding of Successful People
Following the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era was a time of politics and
reform. Poverty was a serious issue and affected most Americans,
along with constant turmoil regarding racial equality and women’s suffrage.
The current politics scene was commonly a picture of corruption, but also
a place of triumph. Careers of successful people such as Theodore
Roosevelt, Eugene V. Debs, W.E.B. Du Bois, Margaret Sanger, Eleanor Roosevelt,
and Huey Long were greatly shaped by this time period with posing limitations
and also opportunities.
Theodore was a very powerful man, often referred to with many metaphors
such as “verily, a wonderful little machine destined to be overstrained,
perhaps, but not as yet, truly, betraying the least creak.”(112)
Theodore was brought up in a world of politics, and there were no limitations
to the development of his character. He had a high profile lifestyle,
with servants tending to his needs. “Men and women of high quality
came to visit his parents and treated as one of their number. He
accepted his status without question, as he did the charitable responsibilities
it entailed.”(116) Theodore Roosevelt was growing to be a wealthy
white man, which not accounting for his character alone, he was a very
powerful and influential man. He graduated from Harvard University
at the top of his class, and had a strikingly varied life. He was
colonel of the Rough Riders in the West, and served high-ranking terms
in the United States Government, including two terms as President.
Roosevelt had no limitations on his successes. Not counting the costs,
he could travel anywhere he wanted, participate in anything he wanted,
like the typical white male of the time.
Eugene V. Debs was a strong advocate for workers’ rights during the
Progressive Era. He had a strong knack for public speaking, captivating
audiences whether they were for or against him. Corporations had
a stronghold in current politics, which influenced legislations and ordinances.
By this, for a person to lead a strike or participate in a strike, it was
becoming more of a crime to commit this act, even a calm non-violent protest.
Eugene Debs stood against this, being a tough man who had learned to stand
for what he believes in, advocating non-violent strikes. He was a
hard worker as a teenager, but began to see the possibilities of his future
while working with the railroad. He joined unions, and soon was in
charge of his own. This blossomed into a career of leadership.
Deb’s soon found himself fighting huge companies, defending it’s workers
for what they needed. Regarding his strength in the Pullman strike,
“For debs to obey the injunction would be for him to lose the strike by
default and probably destroy his union. To disregard it might send
him and other leaders to jail. He felt he had no choice but to disregard
it.”(133)
During the Progressive Era, blacks were gaining power in politics,
but still it was miniscule. The man at the forefront of this power
was W.E.B. Du Bois. He somewhat shared this power with Booker T.
Washington, although they were at opposite ends of the pool for blacks
rights, but still generally pushing for the same purposes. Du Bois
was an avid believer in the necessity of a college degree to succeed as
a black in America, and he acquired a Ph.D. from Harvard University.
Du Bois saw that the only way to attain black rights was through semi-violent
strategies, contrary to Washington’s philosophy. Although the fight
for black rights would have been considerably more difficult in the Gilded
Age, matters were still tough for a black man trying to succeed in a world
of politics. Du Bois use a variety of magazines to reach the black
“community”. “…Du Bois, undoubtedly to compensate for the organization’s
inability to obtain publicity, managed to implement his long-held dream
of editing a militant ‘national Negro magazine’, that would be a vehicle
for his agitation.”(149) At his highest point, he was the leader
of the Negro opinion, which at this time was a key part in the economy,
politics, and lifestyle of Americans.
Birth control was a topic that couldn’t even be discussed in public.
There was not widespread education on the matter, and when accessible,
obtaining information or devices was difficult to impossible. Margaret
Sanger was a strong feminist and primarily strived for any possible matter
that could benefit the woman. She frequently traveled, even inter-continentally,
to obtain information on possible procedures and forms of birth control.
She published pamphlets on the subject, but ran into a barrier called the
Comstock Law. It basically stated that any obscene material was illegal
to publish, and this was considered obscene. Sanger was sent to trial
and was thrilled on the news. “In any case, although thrilled at
the thought of hearing the words ‘The People vs. Margaret Sanger,’ and
longing to stand up to open court over the Woman Rebel (a pamphlet she
had published).”(169-170) Rather than fight in court over this, she
chose to flee the country, and she changed her name to Bertha Watson.
Eleanor Roosevelt was a fascinating woman who actually didn’t have
much of a childhood. She had no friends, was frequently teased, and
was called ugly at times. “As a youngster, Eleanor experienced emotional
refection almost from the time she could remember. ‘I seemed like
a little old woman entirely lacking in the spontaneous joy and mirth of
youth.’ Her mother called her ‘Granny’ and, at least in Eleanor’s
memory, treated her daughter differently than her son…”(183) Eleanor
was married to Franklin Roosevelt, and was a great help in advising when
he was president. She established strong bonds with friends, which
were her primary source of support, while she advocated for women’s rights.
Her way of thinking was “To many women, and I am one of them, it is difficult
to care enough to cause disagreement or unpleasant feelings, but I have
come to the conclusion that this must be done for a time so we can prove
our strength and demand respect for our wishes.”(187-188) Eleanor
held a strong influence in women’s organizations. She had been leader
of the national women’s campaign for the Democratic Party, and she had
ties with the Women’s Trade Union League, and the National Consumer’s League.
She also lobbied for black’s rights, formally joining the NAACP.
“Largely because of Eleanor Roosevelt, the issue of civil rights for black
Americans received a hearing at the White House.”(194) Eleanor was
basically answering the calls of the needs of the people at that time,
whether it be blacks, women, or everyone else, she would not hesitate to
support what was right.
The word “controversial” would be a good definition of Huey Long.
He held great power, and almost created a monopoly of power in his dictatorship
of Louisiana and neighboring regions. He gained this through altering
the elections, turning once private occupations into state jobs, and then
firing those workers and putting his men in the position, and many other
methods. Although Long brought great corruption to the state
of Louisiana, there were many underlying positive side effects to his reign
of power. “The roads and bridges were built; there were more and
better hospitals and a great expansion of educational facilities.”(211)
It is also noted on page 212 that “despite the lavish spending and high
taxation, his program was soundly financed and the state’s credit good.”
Possibly that although the corruption and wrongdoings, Long could have
possibly been a necessary evil of the time, to bring a once stagnant Louisiana
to a somewhat booming area.
Just like any person’s identity may be shaped by their surroundings
and lifestyle, it holds true with these leaders discussed. This time
of upheaval, reform, racial inequality and poverty played important roles
in the development of these people. Some were pushing the limits,
such as women in politics, or even blacks in politics, and succeeding.
In this Progressive Era, these people were the pioneers in their field,
often performing what had never been done before. With opportunities
handed to them or opportunities fought for, they seized the chance at creating
a greater people, and making a positive influence in America.
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