How the Progressive Era Changed America

CrashCourse

This fast-paced educational video explores the Progressive Era in the United States, a period of significant political and social reform aimed at addressing the problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption. Host John Green explains how the era was defined by a tension between the desire for government by experts and the push for greater democratic participation, highlighting the complex and often contradictory nature of the movement. The video covers a wide array of topics including the rise of muckraking journalism with Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle,' the labor movement and the IWW, the implementation of 'Taylorism' in workplaces, and the philosophical split between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois regarding civil rights. It critically examines how progressive reforms simultaneously expanded democracy through measures like the 17th Amendment while restricting it through Jim Crow laws and voter suppression tactics in the South. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent anchor for units on the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. It connects economic theory to social realities, illustrates the power of media in shaping public policy, and provides a nuanced view of American history that acknowledges both the achievements and failures of the progressive movement. The video encourages students to draw parallels between historical labor and social issues and contemporary debates about inequality and government intervention.