Motivations Behind the Progressive Movement

In the early twentieth century, a variety of social movements emerged in the United States as a response to rapid industrialization and urbanization. These movements included the Progressive Movement, which sought to address issues of inequality, corruption, and inefficiency in government and society. Analyze the following documents to explore how various groups contributed to the Progressive Movement and identify the motivations behind their actions. Be sure to consider the authorship, audience, and purpose of each document in your analysis.

Document A: A speech by a prominent suffragist advocating for women's voting rights.

Document B: A newspaper article from a muckraking journalist exposing corruption in local government.

Document C: A pamphlet from a labor union promoting workers' rights and better working conditions.

Document D: A letter from a middle-class reformer discussing the need for social reform in urban areas.