History
Discussion #5: How progressive was the Progressive Era?
The Progressive era stands out as a time when reformers sought to address social ills brought about by a rapidly changing society. Debates surrounded issues such as political corruption, the regulation of business practices, racial equality, women’s suffrage and the living conditions of impoverished immigrants overcrowded into urban slums.
In order to prepare for this discussion forum:
Review and identify the relevant sections of Chapter 22 that support your discussion.
Read Booker T. Washington’s speech The Atlanta Compromise
Read W.E.B. Du Bois The Niagara Movement
The Niagara Movement’s “Declaration of Principles” by W.E.B.Du Bois
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
Excerpt from How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis and the photography of Jacob Riis.
After you have completed your readings post a response to only ONE of the following questions.
Compare and contrast the ideas of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. In your opinion, which of these two men had a better plan? Explain why.
When it came to the issue of suffrage, did all women agree? Explain.
Which social problem was Jacob Riis addressing through his work? How did he communicate the severity of this problem?
In order to earn the full 100 points (100%) for this assignment, you must:
Directly and completely answer at least ONE question. Please make sure that you clearly indicate which question you have chosen to discuss. Clearly and accurately explain your answer based on factual information contained in the assigned readings. (80 points)
Students must respond to at least one fellow student’s posting explaining the reason(s) for their agreement or disagreement, with the arguments that have been presented, in order to get full credit for the discussion. (20 points)
When posting your response to a fellow student’s comment, please try whenever possible, to select the question that you did not address for your discussion.
Make sure that all statements are supported with facts from the reading selections.
ANSWER
How progressive was the Progressive Era?
How progressive was the Progressive Era?
Question: When it came to the issue of suffrage, did all women agree? Explain.
Not all women agreed on the issue of suffrage as many often assume. The women who supported suffrage argued in favor of personal independence. They were of the view that voting had huge implications in achieving political independence. Women required equal rights to men under the law. They felt the issue of suffrage was propagating a huge injustice and widening inequality. Women who supported suffrage were also opposed to taxation without representation. Some of them had properties and were paying taxes yet they were having no representation. Women needed to play a role in creating the laws that they were compelled to obey and seeking suffrage was the only way out.
The women that opposed suffrage argued that women did not want to vote because they were already charged with the high responsibility of home and children. They argued that these responsibilities were so involving that women could not again bother themselves with political affairs. Other women opposed suffrage arguing that women lacked the relevant expertise and mental capacity to participate in the political process. This argument was rooted in the years of operation in a patriarchal society that made women feel inferior to men. Another group that was so opposed to women’s suffrage argued that adding more women to the electoral system would increase the cost of conducting the exercise for no apparent reason because the women would assume the same voting patterns that the men had inhibited. They, therefore, asserted that the men were representative of the women in the voting booth. The issue of suffrage was not one that received unanimous support among all women. Many would expect that all women supported the course but the reality of the American patriarchal society ensured some women were opposed to their rights.
