The Progressive Era: Transformations, Reforms, And Controversies

Initial Steps

1. Analyze the prompt for the main topic, key dates, & potential historical thinking skill (HTS).
2. Treat it like an LEQ and think of some quick outside evidence, if any, that you associate with the topic.
3. Read the documents. Summarize each with a 1-3 word phrase annotated on the side.
4. Decide which 3-4 you would like to HIPP. (I suggest 1 more than the 3 required, just in case)
5. Plan out your essay, starting with categories for your thesis and then sorting documents accordingly.

Contextualization: What is going on immediately before or during the time period that is relevant to the prompt?

Opposition from labor, suffrage, and preservation groups drastically altered the trajectory of American history through the Progressive Era. Several reformer’s ideas ran counter to the male-dominated capitalist institutional model of the time. Several of the proposed improvements were antagonistic to the incumbent administration, the amount of popular dissatisfaction demanded reform. Changes were initiated by both the businessman and the activists.

Transition Sentence: Connect the Contextualization with your Thesis & show how it is relevant to the prompt.

Although The government-backed them with the goal of soothing the ordinary man and silencing the assertive middle class. The progressive era reformers in the end were successful in facilitating change in the USA between 1900 and 1920

Thesis: Establish a thesis that directly answers all parts of the question. Your best bet is to use the “Although” statements we use in class. See “How to write a thesis” if you forget

Several might claim that women during the outset were dealt with unfairly it was true (Document B), by 1920, the 19th amendment was enacted by Wilson, granting women the right to vote.

Topic Sentence 1: This is your topic sentence for body paragraph #1 and should correspond to thesis subpoint/category #1. It should be a re-statement of your thesis category and then proved by later evidence. Body paragraph #1 is usually (doesn’t have to be) the antithesis paragraph: analyze the lesser change, the lesser continuity, the lesser cause, or the smaller similarity/difference.

Disputes concerning the labour, Religion and faith (Butler Act) (Document E) women’s rights, capitalism, sex and sensuality(Document F)  as well as other facets of American society arose as a result of the progressive era’s socio-political and legal transformation (Olsen, 2019).

Evidence 1: This is the outside evidence or document analysis you will use to prove your thesis subpoint (i.e., the above topic sentence). If it is Outside Evidence, it should be ACE’d to define the term and to tell why it proves the thesis point. If a document, it should be in Summary-(Cite)-HIPP format. Remember not to quote and to add value (SFI?).

The African American population too was full of Anger in the USA (Document A).“Black men were enlisted into a massive fight”, W.E.B DuBois wrote in the Crisis. Woodrow, according to DuBois, enlisted numerous Black men in the fight with Germany, to preserve the USA as a whole. 

Evidence 2: This is the outside evidence or document analysis you will use to prove your thesis subpoint (i.e., the above topic sentence). If it is Outside Evidence, it should be ACE’d to define the term and to tell why it proves the thesis point. If a document, it should be in Summary-(Cite)-HIPP format. Remember not to quote and to add value (SFI?).

Wilson indeed was a southern Sympathizer, and sexist for enacting regulations that prevented African Americans and others unequal from gaining equality.

Evidence 3: This is the outside evidence or document analysis you will use to prove your thesis subpoint (i.e., the above topic sentence). If it is Outside Evidence, it should be ACE’d to define the term and to tell why it proves the thesis point. If a document, it should be in Summary-(Cite)-HIPP format. Remember not to quote and to add value (SFI?).

Intro Paragraph

By signing the Federal Farm Act, the Workingmen’s Compensation Act, and the Adamson act among other legislation that were beneficial to the ordinary man he ultimately did benefit the ordinary man albeit suppressing and ignoring the inequalities between gender disparities.

Topic Sentence 2: This is your topic sentence for body paragraph #1 and should correspond to thesis category #1. It should be a re-statement of your thesis category and then proved by later evidence.

The progressive era was a period of awakening and transformation in the U.S.A in which government intervention, muckraking, and preservation enhanced people's standard of living.

Evidence 1: This is the outside evidence or document analysis you will use to prove your thesis subpoint (i.e., the above topic sentence). If it is Outside Evidence, it should be ACE’d to define the term and to tell why it proves the thesis point. If a document, it should be in Summary-(Cite)-HIPP format. Remember not to quote and to add value (SFI?).

During the second industrial revolution, progressive politicians like Theodore Roosevelt started to investigate the consequences of the USA’s rapid industrialization economic system: corporatism consolidation, social inequality, and a loss of sovereign powers

Evidence 2: This is the outside evidence or document analysis you will use to prove your thesis subpoint (i.e., the above topic sentence). If it is Outside Evidence, it should be ACE’d to define the term and to tell why it proves the thesis point. If a document, it should be in Summary-(Cite)-HIPP format. Remember not to quote and to add value (SFI?).

Roosevelt and Willian Taft were effective in eliminating corruption in politics by uncovering political dynasties and rulers by blocking them from acquiring dominance.

Evidence 3: This is the outside evidence or document analysis you will use to prove your thesis subpoint (i.e., the above topic sentence). If it is Outside Evidence, it should be ACE’d to define the term and to tell why it proves the thesis point. If a document, it should be in Summary-(Cite)-HIPP format. Remember not to quote and to add value (SFI?).

He thought it's the administration's responsibility to control corporations and enhance people's lives. Several Americans concentrated on reforming the country in methods that would place restrictions on powerful corporations, which include Rockefeller Standard Oil, which built its dominion over an unjust monopolistic paradigm that harmed the market.On the other hand Henry Ford developed an automobile that was accessible for the people turning it into an inexpensive means of transportation (Document D).

Topic Sentence 3: This is your topic sentence for body paragraph #1 and should correspond to thesis category #1. It should be a re-statement of your thesis category and then proved by later evidence.

Roosevelt is the first president to take significant action against trust-busting, like adopting the Hepburn Act in 1906, establishing precedence for the federal government’s jurisdiction.

Evidence 1: This is the outside evidence or document analysis you will use to prove your thesis subpoint (i.e., the above topic sentence). If it is Outside Evidence, it should be ACE’d to define the term and to tell why it proves the thesis point. If a document, it should be in Summary-(Cite)-HIPP format. Remember not to quote and to add value (SFI?).

During this time, the U.S government enacted a massive quantity of laws aimed at regulating community's ills and providing citizens with a stronger feeling of safeguard.

Evidence 2: This is the outside evidence or document analysis you will use to prove your thesis subpoint (i.e., the above topic sentence). If it is Outside Evidence, it should be ACE’d to define the term and to tell why it proves the thesis point. If a document, it should be in Summary-(Cite)-HIPP format. Remember not to quote and to add value (SFI?).

Overly controlling freight charges, deplorable preparation of food, plus erratic economic circumstances were all challenges that needed to be addressed.

Evidence 3: This is the outside evidence or document analysis you will use to prove your thesis subpoint (i.e., the above topic sentence). If it is Outside Evidence, it should be ACE’d to define the term and to tell why it proves the thesis point. If a document, it should be in Summary-(Cite)-HIPP format. Remember not to quote and to add value (SFI?).

Roosevelt was also concerned about the protection of the environment in order to aid subsequent development (Rothbard, 2017).

Conclusion

Thesis Restatement: Restate a reworded version of your thesis--another chance to earn the point in case it didn’t go well the first time. This is also a chance to tie together your essay or reword a thesis that has evolved during the writing of the DBQ.

Roosevelt and Willian Taft were effective in eliminating corruption in politics by uncovering political dynasties and rulers by blocking them from acquiring dominance. Roosevelts’ Reputation as a muckraker preceded him while his Square deal distinguished between trusts that were evil and those of that were good. The Progressive era, was a pivotal period in American History allowing for significant change and also eliminating social inequality to a great extent.

References:

Olsen, K. (2019). Daily Life of Women in the Progressive Era. ABC-CLIO.

Rothbard, M. N. (2017). The progressive era. Ludwig von Mises Institute.