The Progressive Era

Prior to the 1900's, women did not have the right to vote in the United States and were typically thought as just mothers and homemakers. They were also discriminated against in the workplace and were not given fair opportunities like men were. After years of pushing for a change and fighting for equal rights, women were finally given the right to vote in the 19th amendment to the U.S. constitution (3).

The Sherman Anti-Trust Act helped to regulate the power of monopolies in the United States (5). Prior to this, large companies dominated the U.S. and made it hard to start new businesses and compete in certain industries. The leaders of these corporations would have been worth hundreds of billions of dollars in today's money, while their employees were being treated unfairly and struggling to make ends meet. By promoting competition and limiting these big companies' power, Americans had more opportunities for success.

During this time period, African Americans were still being treated unfairly despite the passing of laws trying to prevent it. African Americans, while they now had the right to vote, were given very difficult tests that their white counterparts did not have to take (7). Jim Crow laws also segregated the African Americans from white people, further dividing the two groups.

During the Progressive Era, the United States began to focus on protecting its land. The United States has many beautiful landmarks and parks, a popular one being Yosemite National Park. The Hetch Hetchy Valley, located inside Yosemite National Park, opened the eyes of many with its beauty, eventually leading to its protection and allowing environmentalism to receive more recognition (9).