The late 19th and early 20th centuries was a period of immense industrial growth in the United States. This period of industrialization was accompanied by the rise of large corporate conglomerates, which came to be known as “big business .”It also saw a dramatic increase in the exploitation of workers and the rise of the robber baron class of industrialists, who came to dominate the country’s economic landscape. The Progressive Movement arose to confront the issues of inequality and exploitation in the workplace and to promote economic justice and reform. This essay will assess the role of big business and the exploitation of workers in the Age of Industry, the role that government played in reforming American working conditions, the benefits of the Federal Government regulations of monopolies, and which progressive presidents attained economic justice and reform for workers.
The period of industrialization saw huge growth in the United States economy and the rise of large corporate conglomerates known as “big business .”Many of these conglomerates were led by businessmen labeled as “captains of industry,” “shrewd businessmen,” and “robber barons .”These businessmen were seen as either saviors of the economy or ruthless exploiters, depending on one’s perspective. The robber barons were often accused of exploiting workers, especially in the period before government regulations. The working conditions of the time were often appalling, with long hours, low pay, and dangerous situations. Workers were often subject to hazardous working conditions and long hours, with little to no job security. “Factory workers executed repetitive tasks throughout the long hours of their shifts, seldom interacting with coworkers or supervisors” (OpenStax, 2023, np). The robber barons also tended to form monopolies, which allowed them to control a large portion of the market and exploit workers further. These monopolies enabled them to keep wages low and have a large amount of control over their workers. These wealthy and influential individuals were often accused of exploiting workers due to the lack of government regulations at the time. Generally, this period was notorious for its terrible working conditions and exploitation by the robber barons.
The Progressive Movement arose to confront the issues of inequality and exploitation in the workplace. President Theodore Roosevelt, a progressive himself, argued in his essay “Who is a Progressive?” that the government had an important role in reforming American working conditions. “The progressiveness that meets and merits the cordial approval of these gentlemen is not the kind of progressiveness which we on our side champion.” (Roosevelt, 1912, p.811). He argued that the government was obliged to regulate big businesses and monopolies to protect the working class from exploitation. In order to further the Progressive Movement, Roosevelt established the Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903. The main purpose of this department was to investigate abuses of power by large corporations and to create regulations to protect workers and consumers. The department also worked to improve working conditions and ensure workers had access to safe and sanitary workplaces. Roosevelt’s efforts to improve the lives of the working class set a precedent for future presidents and marked the beginning of a new era of government regulation.
The Federal Government responded to the Progressive Movement by passing legislation that regulated large businesses and monopolies. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was a major legislation that sought to limit corporate monopolies and protect small businesses. “The key pieces of antitrust legislation in the United States the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890.” ( The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 expanded upon the Sherman Act and further regulated the practices of big businesses. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 created the Federal Trade Commission, which was responsible for enforcing antitrust laws. The Federal Government also responded to the Progressive Movement by passing the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. This legislation was intended to protect consumers from fraudulent, contaminated, and dangerous food and drug products. The 16th Amendment was ratified in 1913, introducing the federal income tax to ensure that the wealthy paid their fair share of taxes. The government also passed legislation that sought to protect workers from exploitation. “Child labor was abolished, minimum wage and maximum-hour laws were enacted, and, through the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, workers were guaranteed the right to organize and bargain collectively” (Library of Congress, 2023, np). The Social Security Act of 1935 also provided economic security to citizens by providing benefits for the elderly and the unemployed.
The progressive presidents of the era were instrumental in attaining economic justice and reform for workers. Roosevelt was a staunch advocate for economic reform, as was his successor, Woodrow Wilson. Roosevelt and Wilson both passed legislation that sought to protect workers from exploitation and to promote competition in the marketplace. Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation was an important part of his legacy, providing economic relief to millions of Americans. Wilson also passed important legislation, such as the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933 and the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, both of which sought to protect workers’ rights.
In a nutshell, industrialization saw a dramatic increase in the exploitation of workers and the rise of the robber baron class of industrialists. The Progressive Movement arose to confront the issues of inequality and exploitation in the workplace and to promote economic justice and reform. The Federal Government responded to the Progressive Movement by passing legislation regulating big businesses and monopolies and protecting workers from exploitation. Finally, progressive presidents, such as Roosevelt and Wilson, were instrumental in attempting to attain economic justice and reform for workers.
References
Library of Congress. (2023). Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/march-25
OpenStax. (2023). 18.3 Building Industrial America on the backs of labor – U.S. history. Retrieved from https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/18-3-building-industrial-america-on-the-backs-of-labor
Roosevelt, T. (1912, April 13). Who is a progressive? Retrieved from https://www.unz.com/print/Outlook-1912apr13-00809
Sawyer, L. P. (2019). US antitrust law and policy in historical perspective. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.013.623
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